Armoniosoincanto & Franco Radicchia
Biography Armoniosoincanto & Franco Radicchia
Armoniosoincanto
Founded in 1997, Armoniosoincanto is a vocal ensemble usually made up of female voices. Since its inception, the group has striven to perfect a form of vocal purity that recreates how Medieval and Renaissance music would have sounded as accurately as possible. This vocal purity is characterised by the linearity and the distinctive timbre of the singers voices, which transmit a precise clarity of sound that recreates the essence of prayer and the word of the ancient holy texts, amplified by the sound of ancient melodies. The singers’ research has led them to explore Caroligian codexes, Medieval lauds and ancient texts - both sacred and secular - from the region of Umbria and Tuscany in particular.
In 2010 the ensemble was awarded first prize in the Monodic Christian Chant category at the International Polyphonic Competition “Guido D’Arezzo”, together which a special mention for the most interesting program of musical research; this award follows other prizes won at earlier editions of the same competition in Arezzo in 2002 and 2006 together with the second prize at the International “Seghizzi” Competition in Gorizia in the Gregorian Chant category in 2001.
The ensemble regularly gives concerts not only in Italy but also abroad, in Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Hungary, Austria and USA. They have recorded many CDs: Ufficio Ritmico di San Francesco di Assisi; O Roma Nobilis (pilgrimage songs); Ave Donna Santissima, a musical exploration of the figure the Madonna during the Middle Ages; Requiem, featuring Gregorian Chant and secular music; Cantiones Duarem Vocum, featuring music by Orlando di Lasso; Couperin’s Messe pour le paroisses and Messe pour le convents with organist Adriano Falcioni and the Laudario di Cortona No. 91 recorded for Brilliant Classics. In order to consolidate their research, the ensemble has organized various seminars and workshops on Gregorian Chant and ancient music, with experts in this field. The ensemble regularly collaborates with internationally renowned musicians and has given world premieres of musical works.
