Spiritillo Mediterraneo

Description

Violinist Cristina Prats Costa signs her first solo album, Spiritillo Mediterraneo, a vibrant portrait of the sonic world of 17th- and 18th-century music, shaped by Mediterranean cultures. Inspired by Il Spiritillo Brando by Andrea Falconieri, the album uses the spiritillo - a mischievous and lively spirit - as a metaphor for the Baroque imagination: a realm of invention, improvisation, and richly ornamented dialogue. The Mediterranean appears here not as a border, but as a crossroads where Italian virtuosity, Spanish rhythmic fire, and French elegance converge. Works by Falconieri, Matteis, Sanz, Murcia, Nebra, Biber, Rebel and Vivaldi reflect these exchanges, intensely colored by the use of castanets, which bring incomparable Iberian rhythmic vitality. The Spanish pieces are presented in Cristina Prats Costa's personal arrangements, further personalizing the album's musical journey. Deeply personal, Spiritillo Mediterraneo also reflects Cristina Prats Costa's artistic journey. Rooted in her Spanish heritage and shaped by years of concerts across Europe, North and South America and Asia, the album places ornamentation at the heart of its expression - not as mere decoration, but as narrative. Drawing on Italian virtuosity, French refinement and the vibrant rhythm of Spanish dance and guitar traditions, these interpretations combine a historical perspective with a singular voice. The result is a recording of rhythmic energy, intimacy and rich color, driven by a curious, agile and vibrant spirit.