CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE drop a new video for the track ‘Corallus’ that has previously been released as the third advance single for their latest album “Atalanta Fugiens” (“Atalante Fleeing”). The Italian ensemble’s latest masterpiece, which is based on an enigmatic tome written by German medic and philosopher Michael Maier, was released on June 14, 2024.
CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE comment on the clip: “This video allegorically represents the discovery of the ‘Philosopher’s Stone'”, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and choir vocalist Elena Previdi explains. “This substance was the goal of the magnum opus or ‘great work’ of alchemy and among other properties, it reveals, between lights and colours, the crystalline kaleidoscope of reality.”
The Italians previously commented on the track: “In the song ‘Corallus’ the words of emblem 32 of the alchemical treatise ‘Atalanta Fugiens’, which was published by the German physician Michael Maier in 1617, come to life”,Elena Previdi wrote. “As always, I have composed completely new music to be performed by Camerata Mediolanense for this. Surrounding two recitatives, a short melodic line with an archaic outline is repeated 10 times. A new element is added to each of these, until maximum saturation is reached in the finale. This is what a coral actually does: Although it appears to be a single organism, which in Maier’s time was admired in the Sicilian Sea, it actually consists of thousands of living beings that have joined together. Thanks to the cold north wind, their remains are eventually transformed into a wonderful red stone, which was seen as an awe-inspiring representation of the Philosopher’s Stone.”
Video credits
Acting by Chiara Rolando
Directed by Federico Goglio
Produced by Camerata Mediolanense
Music composed by Elena Previdi
Performance by Camerata Mediolanense
“Atalanta Fugiens” is streaming in full via the link below:
https://youtu.be/YEBdQWC7PL8
Shop link: http://lnk.spkr.media/camerata-atalanta
CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE commented on the album: “We have been inspired by the enigmatic tome ‘Atalanta Fugiens’, which was written in 1617 by Michael Maier, and for which I have composed entirely new music that is based on the German alchemist’s occult illustrations and texts”, Elena Previdi explained. “The complementary MCD of the limited edition comes with 4 tracks that constitute a darker appendix. With this album, we have returned to our ‘classic’ style: That means a strong set of percussion, including bass, frame, and snare drums, as well as light touches of keyboard. Those elements are in perfect balance with the clear melodies, entrusted to the three wonderful voices of our sopranos Carmen, Chiara, and Desirée. The two harpsichords, played by Elena and Giancarlo Vighi, as well as the bass viola, which is performed by our guest Giovanna Scarlato, add additional depth to the ensemble. The recurring presence of disturbing sounds, the unconventional manipulation of reverb, delay, and the use of noise, all aim to generate a sound that can be described as both: heavenly and infernal.”
Tracklist
1. Embryo Ventosa
2. Rosetum
3. Rupe Cava
4. Corallus
5. Hermaphroditus
6. Victor Quadrupedum
7. Mercurius
8. Arpie
9. Draco
10. Alta Venenoso
CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE are one of these extremely rare musical gems that are hard to categorise. The Italians defy all expectations and transcend the usual conventions about formats, style, and how to generally compose and perform music.
With the sixth studio album “Atalanta Fugiens” (“Atalanta Fleeing”), CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE return to what might be dubbed their ‘classic style’, which means a strong set of percussion from the rhythm section with light touches of the keyboards achieving a perfect balance with the soaring melodies performed by all vocalists consisting of the wonderful sopranos Carmen, Chiara, and Desirée in the lead as well as harmonious choirs.
The Italian ensemble’s often rather martial rhythms are accompanied by high-impact melodies built on ancient scales. Two harpsichords, bass viola, and the recurring presence of disturbing sounds, the unconventional manipulation of reverb and delay as well as the use of noise, all aim to create a sound that touches both the heavenly and the infernal.
It goes without saying that such carefully crafted music with a strong vocal focus is perfectly reflected in fascinating and well-researched lyrics. The album title “Atalanta Fugiens” refers to an eponymous volume that was released at the beginning of the early modern period in 1617. Written by the German physician and alchemist Michael Maier, this emblem book contains 50 discourses with illustrations by Matthias Merian, each of which is accompanied by an epigrammatic verse, prose, and a musical fugue.
Emblem books were popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. In this context an ’emblem’ means allegorical illustrations with an accompanying explanatory text. After studying the enigmatic book for more than ten years, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE composed entirely new music for a selection of emblems (numbers 1, 7, 16, 25, 27, 32, 33, 36, 50) starting with the first and ending with the last. As a tribute to Maier, the ensemble also performed the original three-voice fugue of the final emblem.
Michael Maier (1568–1622) studied medicine and philosophy in Germany and the Italian city of Padua. After getting arrested following a fight, he first returned to Germany and then moved to Prague where his growing interest in alchemy raised him first to the status of councillor to the politically weak Rudolf II of Habsburg. The emperor nonetheless supported the arts and dabbled in the occult, and later ennobled Maier to an Imperial Count Palatine.
CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE were established in Milan, Italy in 1994 as an ensemble, which also gave the band their name as it literally means a ‘group of chamber musicians from Milan’ – using the ancient Latin name of the city. As a primus inter pares, classically educated composer Elena Previdi has always written most of the music. She is also a much sought after harpsichord player. Not all members of the ensemble come from a classical background. Mostly post-punk, wave, and even traditional music have also played an important part in the band’s musical DNA.
Over the last three decades, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE have built an impressive reputation for highly original albums and outstanding concerts that attract connoisseurs and music lovers from widely different scenes. Often viewed as an amalgamation of neo classic and dark wave, the Italians span a much wider range of styles and forms of expression. While the previous full-length “Le Vergini Folli” (2017) leaned stronger to the band’s neo classical side, “Atalanta Fugiens” returns to the wider sonic approach of the earlier albums. Yet, these are only nuances in a most fascinating artistic journey. With “Atalanta Fugiens”, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENSE carry the immense weight and strength of 30 years of creating a unique musical experience way up high to a new shining pinnacle.
Band: Camerata Mediolanense
Album: Atalanta Fugiens
Release date: June 14, 2024
Style: Neo Classic, Dark Wave
Label: Auerbach Tonträger
Review impact date: Mai 21, 2024
Line-up
Elena Previdi – keyboards, harpsichord, effects, percussion, virtual instruments, choir
Evor Ameisie – lead vocals, percussion, effects, virtual instruments, choir
Manuel Aroldi – percussion
Marco Colombo – percussion, drums
Désirée Corapi – lead vocals, choir
Carmen D’Onofrio – lead vocals, choir
Chiara Rolando – lead vocals, choir
Giancarlo Vighi – keyboards, harpsichord, accordion, vocals, choir
Guest musicians
Lavinia C. – treble voice in ‘Arpie’ and ‘Follia Del Mondo’
Paolo Siconolfi – bass vocals in ‘Corallus’, ‘Hermaphroditus’, ‘Mercurius’
Giovanna Scarlato – bass viola in ‘Rupe Cava’, ‘Corallus’, ‘Mercurius’, ‘Alta Venenoso’
Vincenzo Zitello – second harp in ‘Hic Leo’
Recording, Mix & Mastering
Paolo Siconolfi at Virtual Light Studio in Vedano al Lambro (Monza, IT)
Artwork taken from a woodcut in the book “Atalanta Fugiens”
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak
Available formats
“Atalanta Fugiens” is available as 48-page hardcover 2CD artbook with 4 bonus tracks, as an purple organic vinly LP, and as a digisleeve CD.
Links
www.cameratamediolanense.com
www.facebook.com/cameratamediolanense