“Napulantica” (literally “Old Naples”) is a musical Ensemble that presents classical Neapolitan melody and song in traditional form, as originally conceived by the composer, introducing each work within its historic and poetic context.

Napulantica’s repertory of Neapolitan melody and song, spanning the years from the seventeenth century to the early decades of the twentieth century, includes not just those most popular pieces but also those less well-known but admired and loved by real connoisseurs. Performance of the typically resonating acoustic music faithfully follows Neapolitan tradition, using original instruments of the period: mandolin, guitar, transverse flute, violin, tambourine (“tamburello” and “tammorra”), and castanets. The music is accompanied by male and female voices, singing together and/or in “controcanto”, and expresses the real passion and romance of a bygone Naples.

Napulantica was created in September 2004, following the meeting of two “appassionati” of classical Neapolitan melody, Enzo Aversano and Fernando Galano. Both had had experiences of a similar nature regarding this type of music, and both had a desire to create a group of dedicated musicians who would have the artistic ability and desire to present such music – the classical melody and song of a bygone Naples – both in Italy and abroad.

Enzo Aversano and Fernando Galano were quickly joined by Elio Greco, a percussionist of talent, and Franco Tripodi, a virtuoso of the classical guitar, both bringing their own distinct musical backgrounds to the equation, whilst at the same time setting more firmly at the centre of the quartet’s attention the tradition of classical Neapolitan melody and song. Another major contribution to the Ensemble’s musical development was the entry, at the end of 2004, of Loredana Casella, a singer of rare technical and interpretative talent.

With a musical line-up nearing completion, if not perfection, Napulantica entered the public arena in April 2005, demonstrating immediate success. Rapidly building on such a positive start, within a month the Ensemble grew yet larger with the entry of the flautist, Michele Barbarulo, whose dexterous play added yet one more dimension to Napulantica’s already impressive rendition of the Neapolitan melody and song.

Napulantica’s professionalism – its’ ability to render and interpret an ever-enlarging repertory of Neapolitan melody and song – is continually being improved and perfected through public play at concerts and through private practise. Napulantica continues to develop, the latest musical expansion coming in the form of Matteo Masullo, a virtuoso of the violin and mandolin of significant national and international experience. It is just such judicious additions to the Ensemble’s ranks, along with an innate ability to combine musical skill with instrumental virtuosity, and a real love for the traditional music of their city, that has allowed Napulantica to break out of standard musical limitations to recreate and transmit, ever more faithfully, the original “aria agrodolce” (bittersweet air) of classical Neapolitan melody and song.