Giovanni Battista Pergolesi - L'Olimpiade (Giulio Prandi)

Information

Composer: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

• L'Olimpiade, P. 145

Anizio Zorzi Giustiniani; Carlotta Colombo

Silvia Frigato; Josè Maria Lo Monaco

Theodora Raftis; Matteo Straffi; Francesca Ascioti

Orchestra Ghislieri

Giulio Prandi, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Arcana

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Pietro Metastasio’s acclaimed libretto L'Olimpiade has been set to music by over 60 composers, including Vivaldi, Hasse, and Scarlatti. Among these, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s 1735 adaptation—his final opera seria before his untimely death at age twenty-six—is widely celebrated for its ingenious musical originality and joyful freshness. Following their rediscovery of Pergolesi's unpublished Mass in D major, conductor Giulio Prandi and Orchestra Ghislieri have recorded this operatic masterpiece. Produced at the historic 18th-century theatre in Jesi, the composer's hometown, the project was launched in collaboration with the Pergolesi Spontini Foundation to preserve and promote his musical legacy.

Giulio Prandi is an acclaimed Italian conductor, scholar, and educator specializing in 18th-century vocal repertoire. In 2003, he founded the Coro e Orchestra Ghislieri, directing them at prestigious European concert halls and festivals, including a 2019 residency at the Oude Muziek Festival Utrecht. An avid researcher, Prandi has unearthed numerous unpublished historical works while recording award-winning albums for Arcana and Sony. He holds degrees in mathematics, conducting, and composition, frequently appearing as a guest conductor with leading Italian opera houses. Additionally, Prandi maintains an active teaching schedule, leading masterclasses and advanced choral programs across Milan and Pavia.