Cappella Augustana is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1989 by the Italian conductor and musicologist Matteo Messori. The ensemble is based in Bologna, Italy, and is known for its performances of early music, particularly from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Messori founded Cappella Augustana with the goal of exploring and performing the rich repertoire of early music that had been largely neglected by contemporary audiences. He assembled a group of talented musicians who shared his passion for this music, and together they began to perform in churches and concert halls throughout Italy. The ensemble's name, Cappella Augustana, is a reference to the Augustan Age, a period of cultural and artistic flourishing in ancient Rome. Messori chose this name to reflect his belief that the music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods represented a similar golden age of artistic achievement. Over the years, Cappella Augustana has become known for its meticulous attention to historical accuracy in its performances. The ensemble uses period instruments and strives to recreate the sound and style of the music as it would have been heard in its original context. The main members of Cappella Augustana have changed over the years, but the ensemble has always been led by Messori. He serves as both conductor and artistic director, and his expertise in early music has been instrumental in shaping the ensemble's sound and repertoire. One of the highlights of Cappella Augustana's career was its performance at the Festival Oude Muziek in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1995. This prestigious festival is dedicated to early music, and Cappella Augustana's performance was widely praised for its authenticity and beauty. In 2000, Cappella Augustana released its first recording, a collection of music by the Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. The recording was well-received by critics and helped to establish the ensemble's reputation as one of the leading interpreters of early music. Since then, Cappella Augustana has released several more recordings, including a collection of music by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and a recording of music from the Spanish Renaissance. The ensemble's recordings have won numerous awards and have been praised for their technical excellence and musical sensitivity. In addition to its recordings, Cappella Augustana has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and festivals. The ensemble has appeared at the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Festival de Musique Baroque de Versailles, among others. One of the most memorable performances in Cappella Augustana's history was its 2009 performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Basilica di San Petronio in Bologna. This monumental work is considered one of the greatest achievements of Western classical music, and Cappella Augustana's performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and technical precision. In recognition of its contributions to the world of early music, Cappella Augustana has received numerous awards and honors. In 2010, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Premio Abbiati, which is considered the highest honor in Italian classical music.

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