Cappella Neapolitana is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of music from the Baroque era. The ensemble was founded in 1986 by Antonio Florio, a conductor and musicologist who is considered one of the leading experts on Neapolitan Baroque music. Florio was born in Naples in 1961 and began his musical studies at a young age. He studied piano and composition at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella in Naples, and later earned a degree in musicology from the University of Naples. He went on to study conducting with Franco Ferrara and Claudio Abbado, and has since become known for his interpretations of Baroque music. Florio founded Cappella Neapolitana with the goal of reviving the music of Naples from the 17th and 18th centuries. The ensemble is made up of a core group of musicians who specialize in playing period instruments, such as the harpsichord, lute, and viola da gamba. The ensemble also includes a choir, which performs vocal works from the same period. One of the highlights of Cappella Neapolitana's career was their performance of the opera "La Finta Giardiniera" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The performance took place in 2006 at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, one of the oldest and most prestigious opera houses in the world. The production was directed by Florio and featured a cast of young singers who were chosen through a competition organized by the ensemble. Another notable performance by Cappella Neapolitana was their concert at the Festival de Musique Baroque de Pontoise in France in 2010. The ensemble performed a program of Neapolitan Baroque music, including works by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Leonardo Leo. The concert was well-received by both audiences and critics, and helped to further establish the ensemble's reputation as one of the leading interpreters of Baroque music. Cappella Neapolitana has also received numerous awards and accolades throughout their career. In 2001, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Premio Abbiati, which is considered one of the highest honors in the Italian music world. The award recognized the ensemble's contributions to the revival of Neapolitan Baroque music and their commitment to historical accuracy in their performances. In addition to their performances and awards, Cappella Neapolitana has also recorded several albums of Baroque music. Their recordings include works by composers such as Alessandro Scarlatti, Francesco Durante, and Giovanni Paisiello. The ensemble's recordings have been praised for their authenticity and their ability to capture the spirit of the music of Naples from the Baroque era. Overall, Cappella Neapolitana has established itself as one of the leading ensembles in the world of Baroque music. Through their performances, recordings, and commitment to historical accuracy, the ensemble has helped to revive the music of Naples from the 17th and 18th centuries and bring it to a wider audience.

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