La Stravaganza started its activity in Rome as  a performing ensemble: two violins, viola da gamba and harpsichord (Enrico Gatti, Cristina Farnetti, Paolo Pandolfo e Rinaldo Alessandrini).

At the beginning (ca. 1977-1980) we dedicated ourselves to sources research and study (at that time not so easy to purchase in facsimile or critical editions), to regular rehersals aiming to reach a strong ensemble feeling and technique and to find an idiomatic language grammar mostly related to italian XVII century repertoire.
We had our first concert experiences in Rome, thanks to the enthousistic work of Sergio Siminovich, who gave the chance to start in performing to several future well-known musicians.

It can be useful to remind that between the end of the Seventies and the beginning of the Eighties the "early music" mouvement of ideas was yet strong and lively in Northern Europe (e.g. the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Amsterdam and The Hague, the Conservatoire Royal in Bruxelles or the Royal College of Music of London, besides plenty of festivals and summer schools); on the contrary, in Italy it was still marginal, almost related to local experiences apart from international life. And there were no teachers. That's why we decided to leave and apply abroad: Cristina e Enrico studied before with Chiara Banchini at the Conservatoire populaire de musique di Ginevra, then at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in the Hague with Sigiswald Kuijken; Paolo with Jordi Savall at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Rinaldo with David Collier and Ton Koopman in Amsterdam.

Concerts playing went on as well, increasing between 1983 and 1985 both in Italy and in Europe, but after some years it stopped, and different ensembles took place instead (Ensemble Aurora, Labirinto, Concerto Italiano...).

Meanwhile, La Stravaganza was involved in concert management, with two seasons a year (“Pasqua Musica” and “Natale Musica”), located in historical buildings and churches (Sala Borromini, Palazzo della Cancelleria, Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, La Maddalena al Pantheon, Sant'Agnese in Agone, San Carlo ai Catinari, Sant'Ignazio). Moreover, summer seasons in Viterbo e provincia (2001-2006); Bande al Pincio (1988-1995); Rassegne di canto corale (1989-1994).

Concert management is still going on, adding to the preminent baroque repertoire some XX century and contemporary works performed in completely different contexts, as Istituti e Fondazioni culturali (Società geografica italiana, Istituto centrale per i beni sonori ed audiovisivi, Casa della Memoria).

From 1997 to 2010, the wonderful Palazzo Doria Pamphilj became the perfect set for both hearing music and admiring masterpieces, giving the visitors the chance of enjoying different artistic features.

For a while, we also experienced fac-simile printing, now dismissed; on the contrary, master-classes promoting is still on going.

Come eravamo (1980-1985) (9)