The Soloists of Cappella Neapolitana is a classical music ensemble that has gained worldwide recognition for its exceptional performances of Baroque and Renaissance music. The ensemble was founded in 2001 by the Italian conductor and musicologist Antonio Florio, who is also the artistic director of the group. Florio, who was born in Naples in 1961, has been passionate about early music since his youth. He studied musicology at the University of Naples and later pursued conducting studies at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella. He has conducted numerous orchestras and ensembles throughout Europe and has recorded over 50 albums of Baroque and Renaissance music. The Soloists of Cappella Neapolitana was formed with the aim of reviving the music of Naples during the Baroque and Renaissance periods. The ensemble consists of a core group of 12 singers and instrumentalists, who are all specialists in early music. The ensemble's repertoire includes works by composers such as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Alessandro Scarlatti, and Claudio Monteverdi. One of the highlights of the ensemble's career was their performance of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater at the Festival de Musique Baroque de Pontoise in France in 2003. The performance was highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and it helped to establish the ensemble's reputation as one of the leading interpreters of Baroque music. In 2005, the ensemble released their first album, entitled "Napoli Aragonese," which featured music from the Aragonese period in Naples. The album was well-received by critics and helped to further establish the ensemble's reputation as experts in early Neapolitan music. The ensemble has also performed at numerous festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, including the Festival de Musique Baroque de Versailles, the Festival de Musique Ancienne de Callas, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. They have collaborated with other leading early music ensembles, such as Les Talens Lyriques and La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy. In addition to their performances, the Soloists of Cappella Neapolitana have also received numerous awards and accolades for their recordings. Their album "Napoli Aragonese" was awarded the Diapason d'Or in 2006, and their recording of Scarlatti's Stabat Mater was awarded the Choc de Classica in 2010. The ensemble's commitment to reviving the music of Naples during the Baroque and Renaissance periods has helped to shed light on a rich and often overlooked musical tradition. Their performances and recordings have brought this music to a wider audience and have helped to establish the Soloists of Cappella Neapolitana as one of the leading interpreters of early Neapolitan music.

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