What if the most beautiful music isn’t always the best known? With *Stravaganza!*, we invite you to discover forgotten treasures of the Italian Baroque. Moving beyond the big names—such as the Venetian Monteverdi or the Neapolitan Scarlatti— Maud Bessard-Morandas and the O Tempora ensemble shed light on works by Roman composers little known today, revealing an intimate world—between the sacred and the profane, between the madrigal and the oratorio—where music embraces the poetry of love, at times luminous, at times tormented.

Behind these rediscovered works emerge major figures of their time, whose lives were often adventurous. Giovanni Felice Sances held the position of Kapellmeister in Vienna under Emperor Leopold I, whom he accompanied in his own compositions, while Carlo Caproli served as Master of Music in the King’s Cabinet under Louis XIV.

The richness of these compositions regains its full vitality thanks to the dedication of the O Tempora ensemble, which brings together under the direction of Quentin Guérillot young musicians driven by the same artistic rigor and a passion for rediscovering rare repertoires. Rooted in the Geneva scene but already performing on several European stages, the ensemble captivates audiences with lively and passionate performances on period instruments.
Winner of the 2024 Prix Ponticello in Geneva, O Tempora embodies a new generation of performers—curious and daring.