Luigi Gordigiani was a prominent figure in 19th-century Florence who became known as the ‘Italian Schubert’. Like his Viennese counterpart, Gordigiani’s creativity found its best expression in songs for voice and piano that earned him international renown in a period when opera reigned supreme in Italy. Gordigiani’s style found a balance between brilliant, almost operatic drawing-room writing, and a deliberately regional vernacular language that gave his songs an honest and innocent character. All of his songs are graceful and delightful, and at the heart of his output are the Popular Tuscan Songs, which captivated the likes of Rossini, Meyerbeer and Chopin.

Marina Comparato, born in Perugia and based in Florence, is a celebrated mezzo-soprano known for her Mozart, baroque, bel canto and 20th-century repertoire. She debuted in London as Rosina and has performed at major venues including Glyndebourne, Teatro Real and Opéra de Paris. Her Carmen at La Fenice and Charlotte in Werther marked key milestones. She has collaborated with conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and recorded extensively across labels including Naxos, Philips, Decca, and Deutsche Grammophon.

Gianni Fabbrini, Florentine-born pianist and musicologist, studied piano, harpsichord, singing, and vocal chamber music. He has worked with major opera houses and festivals including Salzburg, Glyndebourne, Paris, and Tokyo, collaborating with conductors such as Claudio Abbado and Marc Minkowski. His operatic experience includes assisting directors like Peter Brook and Pierluigi Pizzi.