Leonardo Vinci spent his working life in between his hometown of Naples and Rome.  He's remembered today as a baroque composer of vocal music and, in particular, opera.  Although most of it has been lost, some does survive sprinkled throughout many European archives.

One place where Vinci's music can be found today is in Spain.  His Italian cantatas were so popular then that they were even re-set in Spanish.

Vinci made his debut as an opera composer with Lo Cecato fauzo.  Unfortunately, we only have about a dozen arias that have survived.  Nevertheless, they are fine examples of truly original work set in a Neapolitan dialect.

One of Vinci's great strengths was his ability to compose comic vocal music.  His buffa operas and intermezzi were admired by contemporary audiences and composers, alike.  The only opera buffa of Vinci's to survive intact is Li Zite 'ngalera, or "The Lovers on the Galley."  Also written in a Neapolitan dialect, it was very successful in its day, receiving performances in Naples,  and in Rome following the premiere.

Our new release of the week brings us the music of George Frideric Handel.  His complete Concerti Grossi, op.3 are performed by The Academy of Ancient Music under the direction of Richard Egarr.  Released on the Harmonia Mundi label, the recording also includes an orchestral sonata in five parts.

Here's a video of the Capella della Pietà de' Turchini performing a work by Nicola Fago:

The music heard in this episode was performed by the Capella della Pietà de' Turchini.