Il Cembalo di Partenope

Catalina Vicens: Italian music for harpsichord on the world's oldest playable instrument (Naples 1525)

This new album of harpsichordist Catalina Vicens is a unique, multifaceted musical and poetic project. First, it features the world’s oldest playable harpsichord, a priceless treasure that dwells today in the National Music Museum of Vermillion, SD. She plays music from Naples, Italy from around 1525, the year when the instrument that she plays was actually built in Naples. Secondly, Ms Vicens conceived an imaginary tale of the life and story of that very instrument, partly based on historical facts, partly on poetic inspiration emerging from her encounter with this priceless treasure of a historical harpsichord. The CD comes with a free audiobook download of that same story, narrated by Ms Vicens herself and accompanied with original music from the CD.

"Catalina Vicens plays music from Naples, Italy from around 1525, the year when the instrument was built there. She conceived an imaginary tale of the life and story of that very instrument, partly based on historical facts, partly on poetic inspiration emerging from her encounter with this priceless treasure of a historical harpsichord. The beautifully produced CD comes with a free audiobook download of that same story, narrated by Ms Vicens herself and accompanied with original music from the CD. These captivating performances show Catalina Vicens’s profound understanding and impeccable technique. Combined with the warm tone of the magnificent Neapolitan instrument, she offers rare and revelatory insights into this sensuous, elegant and mesmerising music." Fanfare Magazine 2017