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ROUND TEN GRANT APPLICATIONS
Il Capo
ENSEMBLE INFO
Ensemble Contact:
Asako Ogawa
Email:
Ensemble Connect URL
UK Registered Charity No:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Il Capo, a newly formed baroque ensemble of seasoned, virtuosic musicians, launches its inaugural project with a focus on the rediscovery and performance of the music of Diogenio Bigaglia (1678–1745), a remarkable yet largely overlooked Venetian composer.
A key milestone in the project’s trajectory is that First Hand Recordings, has already agreed to release the album, ensuring global dissemination and professional production standards.
In collaboration with distinguished musicologist Michael Talbot, Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Liverpool, we will present the first dedicated concert and professional recording of Bigaglia’s vocal and instrumental works alongside of Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti’s music.
We are proud to feature two award-winning vocal soloists for our recording: Isabelle Haile (soprano) and Meili Li (countertenor), whose artistry will bring Bigaglia’s vocal music to life.
Despite his popularity during his lifetime and stylistic parallels with contemporaries like Vivaldi and Albinoni, Bigaglia’s vocal music—marked by lyrical elegance, expressive counterpoint, and unexpected humour—remains underrepresented today. This project aims to restore his rightful place within the broader narrative of Venetian baroque music.
With the guidance and scholarly contributions of Professor Talbot, who has extensively researched and edited Bigaglia’s works, this project is not only an artistic endeavour but also a musicological initiative of significance. We intend to:
• Perform a curated program of Bigaglia’s vocal and instrumental works in a series of historically informed concerts.
• Produce a professional recording, making these rare works accessible to a global audience for the first time.
• Engage audiences through program notes, lectures, and digital content contextualizing Bigaglia’s life and music.
This project will provide a valuable cultural contribution by reviving neglected repertoire, enriching our understanding of 18th-century Venetian music, and offering audiences a fresh yet historically grounded listening experience.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
While Il Capo is a newly formed ensemble, its members are far from unfamiliar with one another. Several of us have collaborated on multiple professional occasions, developing strong musical rapport and shared interpretive vision over time.
Notably, Asako Ogawa (harpsichord) and Nikolay Ginov (cello) performed alongside Isabelle Haile (soprano) in a recital programme at both the London Handel Festival in April 2025 and the Halle Handel Festival in June 2025. These highly regarded international festivals provided valuable opportunities to deepen our ensemble's artistic synergy in historically informed performance. Asako and Oliver Webber also played together in Linnet Baroque concerts in March 2025, in Bath, and Cardiff UK. Asako and Kristiina worked together in many occasions including Handel’s Alcina, the production of the Opera North conducted by Laurence Cummings OBE.
These past collaborations ensure that Il Capo, though newly named, is built on a foundation of existing musical chemistry and mutual experience — essential qualities for a cohesive and expressive baroque ensemble.
PROJECT COSTS
Number of performers:
Instrumentalists:
Vocalists:
Other:
Project Income (£):
Ticketing/Fees:
Public Funding:
Other trusts/foundations - confirmed
Other trusts/foundations - pending
Other
Income - Total sources
600
0
0
0
4000
4000
Project Expenses (£):
Artists' fees
Artists' travel/accommodation
Venue - Rehearsal/Concert:
Recording/Filming:
Marketing/Publicity:
Management/Contingency:
4010
0
4009.97
5625
119.96
Total Project Costs:
11775
Amount (£) of Grant Requested:
7775
Detailed Budget (Download):
IMPACT OF GRANT
Receiving the Continuo Foundation grant would be transformative for Il Capo, enabling us to launch our inaugural project with artistic integrity and professional excellence. It would directly support rehearsal time, performance fees, and recording costs for our Bigaglia programme, ensuring fair pay for artists and bringing a neglected composer to life. The grant would also help us build visibility, establish our identity as a dynamic new ensemble, and lay the groundwork for future touring and r
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