Cappella Mediterranea has developed a unique approach to the music of the ^17th and 18th centuries, particularly that of Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, and Latin America. Far from a rigid interpretation, the ensemble champions a practice enriched by improvisation, theatricality, and contrasts, restoring these works’ expressive dimension, vitality, and emotional power. This vision, led by Leonardo García-Alarcón, gives voice to scores that have sometimes been forgotten while offering a fresh perspective on the most iconic masterpieces.

At La Cité Bleue, this residency takes on its full meaning: it allows for the unfolding, over an entire season, of a true artistic journey, where each program illuminates a facet of this universe. From *De Roma*, a multifaceted musical fresco, to Jean-Philippe Rameau’s *Les Indes galantes* revisited through a contemporary and choreographic lens, via the madrigal subtleties of Arcadelt, the popular and scholarly resonances of *Carmina Latina*, or the rediscovery of Francesco Cavalli’s *Ercole Amante*, each project reflects the same commitment: to foster dialogue between styles, eras, and cultures.

This regular presence also allows the ensemble to support projects of recreation or reinterpretation, where historical research is combined with genuine artistic inventiveness. Cappella Mediterranea does not merely perform: the ensemble explores, questions, and sometimes reimagines, in a spirit faithful to that of musicians of the past, for whom music was above all an art in motion. This approach is also embodied in collaborations with young artists and composers, helping to bring forth new voices within the early music repertoire itself.

Cappella Mediterranea’s residency at La Cité Bleue thus transforms the venue into a space for creation, transmission, and encounter. Throughout the season, the public is invited to delve into the heart of the ensemble’s work through rehearsals, presentations, and opportunities for discussion. These are all opportunities to better understand the challenges of interpretation and the richness of a meticulous craft aimed at restoring this music to its original splendor.

By fostering this closeness, La Cité Bleue affirms its vision of a place where music is not merely performed, but shared, told, and built together with the artists. With Cappella Mediterranea, this ambition takes on a particularly vibrant form.

• Cappella Mediterranea