Ensemble Salomone Rossi
Odhecaton vocal ensemble
Benedetto Marcello – Psalm XVII
NEW CD ALBUM RELEASE IN AUGUST 2026
Music by Evaristo Felice dall’Abaco, Benedetto Marcello, Arcangelo Corelli
The CD Marcello – Psalm 17, released by Brilliant Classics, is the third recording of the Benedetto Marcello Project, conceived and produced by Ensemble Salomone Rossi.
Psalm 17 was composed for three male voices—alto, tenor, and bass—with instrumental basso continuo accompaniment.
The Ensemble’s interpretation is inspired by contemporary historical accounts of Ascanio Girolamo Giustiniani, the author of the text, and Benedetto Marcello, the composer of the music. It aims to recreate an evening in the Giustiniani family palace, a renowned gathering place for intellectuals, writers, and musicians. Within this refined cultural setting, the study of the classical languages and Hebrew flourished, while soirées featured a combination of vocal and instrumental music and readings of sacred texts.
Following this evocative narrative, the recording opens with Evaristo Felice Dall’Abaco’s Sonata per due violini e basso continuo, followed by a brief harpsichord interlude. Together, these instrumental works prepare the listener for the opening of Psalm 17, entrusted to the three male voices and characterized by an intimate and deeply expressive atmosphere.
Throughout the work, choral arias and recitatives alternate with solo arias and duets. A short instrumental movement by Arcangelo Corelli serves as a bridge between the two parts of the Psalm. The second section also includes two Intonazioni ebraiche and one Intonazione Ecclesiastica Gregoriana, recorded with particular attention to their historical and linguistic context. These elements make this CD the first recording of the complete performance of Psalm 17.
The performance is entrusted to musicians specializing in the Baroque repertoire, both vocal and instrumental. The instruments used are either original period instruments or faithful reproductions, while the tuning has been selected according to historical and geographical performance practice criteria.
For this recording, the Ensemble Salomone Rossi consists of:
- Lydia Cevidalli violin & conductor
- Gianfranco Ricci violin
- Nicola Brovelli cello
- Fabio Longo double bass, violone in G
- Diego Cantalupi theorbo
- Giovanni Togni harpsichord
For this recording, the Odhecaton vocal ensemble consists of:
- Paolo Da Col conductor
- Andrea Arrivabene, Enrico Torre, Gianluigi Ghiringhelli altos
- Vincenzo Di Donato, Luca Dordolo, Roberto Rilievi tenors
- Davide Benetti, Matteo Bellotto, Marcello Vergetto basses
