'Padron mio colendissimo...': Letters about Music and the Stage in the 18th Century

This volume explores the important role that epistolary exchanges play in the reconstruction of musical and theatrical contexts all over Europe in the early modern age, with particular attention to the century of the Enlightenment. Correspondence often bears witness to the reconstruction of performers' careers and theatrical venues, and to the transfers of professionals and repertoires, as well as to social themes and production issues. Archival sources, private letters, and official documents are not only rich in precious data and information, but can also provide material for new research perspectives, related both to their methodological implications and to the interpretation of music and theatre in a given time and place, along with raising questions about historical performance practices and their current revival.

Iskrena Yordanova is violinist and musicologist. Her main research interest focuses on Portuguese and Italian 18th-century repertoire. Since 2014 she is coordinating the research activities and international conferences at 'Divino Sospiro - Centro de Estudos Musicais Setecentistas de Portugal'. She edited serenatas and oratorios by D. Perez, N. Jommelli, J. Cordeiro da Silva, J. de Sousa Carvalho and P. A. Avondano. Cristina Fernandes is a contracted researcher at INET-md, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. She took part in several research projects and has published on various topics related to music and the performing arts in the 18th century, such as ceremonial and performance practices at the Portuguese Royal Chapels, patronage and diplomacy, musicians' professional careers, and cultural transfers between Portugal, Spain, and Italy.