Accademia Bizantina

The Baroque orchestra Accademia Bizantina has the stated intention of "making music like a large quartet." Specializing in choral music and opera, it is among Italy's most prominent historical instrument ensembles. A unique feature of the ensemble has been its cooperative structure; although keyboardist and conductor Ottavio Dantone has been musical and artistic director since 1996, Accademia Bizantina is managed by its collective membership. The ensemble was founded in 1983 in Ravenna and was encouraged by the historically minded pianist Jörg Demus and composer Luciano Berio, with whom it worked on a 1992 recording of his works, among others. The Berio recording was Accademia Bizantina's debut and, thus far, its only recording to feature contemporary music. It backed soprano Delphine Galou on the 2017 Agitata. In 2024, the group returned under conductor Alessandro Tampieri with the Neapolitan sacred music album Invocazioni Mariane.