Cardiff University Chamber Choir: Maestra Di Cappella

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Maria Rosa Coccia (1759-1833) and choral music in eighteenth-century Rome

Join Cardiff University Chamber Choir as we celebrate the life and music of one of the most important women composers of the classical era, Maria Rosa Coccia. Born in Rome and a pupil of the Roman organist and choirmaster Sante Pesci, Maria graduated from the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in 1774 at the age of 15 (having already composed keyboard sonatas and two oratorios), becoming the only woman maestra di cappella in eighteenth-century Rome. She later achieved the same distinction from the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna. Equally at home as composer of instrumental music, opera, oratorio and church music, Maria’s talent was hailed by her contemporaries, yet she sadly gave up composition by the age of 30. This concert, performed from editions transcribed and edited by Peter Leech from primary source manuscripts, will showcase the best of Maria’s sacred works, ahead of our landmark CD recording of the same items, working towards restoring her rightful and significant place in the history of European church music.

Programme to include:

Maria Rosa Coccia: Dixit Dominus, Veni Creator Spiritus, Magnificat

Sante Pesci: Ave Maria

Sebastiano Bolis – Cinque Assoluzzione

Giovanni Battista Casali – Ad te levavi