ALBANY, N.Y. (March 17, 2010) -- Call it 200-year old music with a 21st-century twist.

 

It will be featured by the Albany High School orchestra in a free premier concert called "Neapolitan Treasurers -- Secrets of the Lost Archive" at 4 p.m. March 27 at William S. Hackett Middle School. (Click here to see Capital Region YNN's story about the concert.)

 

The music was composed in 17th- and 18th-century Napoli and transcribed by contemporary maestros Gioacchino Longobardi and Alberto Vitolo of the Neapolitan Music Society. Before the concert, the maestros will devote two weeks to tutoring Albany High orchestra students in an intensive master class based in the 18th-century teaching methods -- which aren't all that different than today’s.

 

"What worked for Leonardo Leo at the Conservatorio S. Maria della pieta dei Turchini in 1792 also works with students today," Longobardi said.

 

Concertgoers will hear works selected by Longobardi and Vitolo -- among the few maestros worldwide who are trained in the Neopolitan style of musical scoring. March 27 will be the first time in centuries that an audience will hear these lost musical masterpieces.

 

The Neapolitan Music Society also will host a benefit on Sunday to raise funds to purchase 25 violins the society will donate to the Albany High School orchestra. For more information on the concert or the benefit, visit http://www.neopolitanmusicsociety.org/.

 

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves approximately 8,400 students in 16 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students.