The Spanish ensemble Resonet has been entrusted with the honour of opening the festival with two concerts to take place on 27 and 28 July. Their program is titled “El ciego del camino” and is made up of works by Antonio de Cabezón. Resonet was formed in 1990 in Santiago de Compostela at the impetus of Fernando Reyes, who conducts the group, and Mercedes Hernández.

On 3 and 4 August Wieland Kuijken will perform the Bach Cello Suites, while on the 7th the brilliant Dutch conductor and performer Gustav Leonhardt will present a programme of harpsichord music. The German vocal and instrumental ensemble Cantus Cölln will perform two concerts on 9 and 10 August with works by Pruli, Valentini, Sances and Monteverdi. The Italian instrumental group Dittamondo Ensemble will perform the program “In sono tubae” on 17 and 18 August, with works by Handel, Mozart, C. P. E. Bach and Galuppi.

The Swiss organist Bernard Brauchli will give a recital of music from the 16th to the 18th centuries on 24 August and on 31 August and 1 September the Arcomelo string ensemble, directed by Michele Benuzzi will give a concert of works by C. P. E. Bach. The early music courses will take place from 16-26 August. Participants will be offered the possibility of taking part in an intensive course concluding on 21 August, or prolonging their studies until the 26th.

The following courses will be offered: clavichord and fortepiano with Bernard Brauchli; harpsichord with Georges Kiss; organ and basso continuo with Luca Scandali; organology with Alberto Galazzo; organ construction with Jörg Gobeli and Thomas Wälti; singing with Eva Kiss; and choral conducting with Giulio Monaco. Enrolment for these courses is open until 31 July. Further information at www.MusicaAnticaMagnano.com