The “Baroque Compass” on its First Route

Developed by the Gaudium Magnum Foundation — Maria and João Cortez de Lobão, in collaboration with the National Museum of Music (Portugal) and the Fondazione Pietà de’ Turchini (Naples), The Baroque Compass is a project dedicated to the rediscovery and first-ever recording of Portuguese Baroque music.
Centred on Carlos Seixas (1704–1742), the project revives the sound of the period through performances on historical instruments, including the 18th-century Joaquim José Antunes harpsichord, a Portuguese National Treasure.
At the end of November, the project took its first steps with concerts by renowned harpsichordist Béatrice Martin at the National Palace of Mafra – where the new Museum of Music is now installed – and at the Chiesa di Santa Caterina da Siena in Naples. The programme placed Seixas in dialogue with works by Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, highlighting musical exchanges between Portugal and Italy, alongside a contemporary piece by António Pinho Vargas, who was present at the event.
The programmes included also contributions from musicologists Miguel Jalôto in Mafra and Paolo Sullo in Naples, who provided musical and historical context, as well as from art historian Giuseppina Raggi who offered insight into Domenico Scarlatti’s presence in Portugal, underscoring the cultural links between the two countries.
The Baroque Compass will continue over the coming months, culminating in the release of a CD and LP next year, allowing everyone to discover these works and imagine the world in which they were first heard.