Since its formation in 1994, La Serenissima has established a reputation as a top historical-performance group in the U.K. and beyond. The group balances original scholarly content with accessible playing that has had a broad appeal and has even been featured on U.S. television. La Serenissima first came into existence as an ad hoc group formed for a 1994 performance of the rarely heard Vivaldi trio serenade La Senna festeggiante, RV 693. Its director was violinist Adrian Chandler, a native of Merseyside and a graduate of the Royal College of Music, who had studied both modern and Baroque violin. When he formed La Serenissima, he was still a student. The group released An Englishman Abroad: Nicola Matteis the Younger and the English Style in 18th Century Europe in 2023.