The ensemble L’Arte del Mondo, founded in 2004, has within a short period made a name by offering innovative programs.

Together with the Turkish musicians of the Pera Ensemble (Istanbul), L’Arte del Mondo invites us to join them for a musical journey through one of the Orient’s most fascinating phenomenons: the harem. Glittering parties, pleasant fragrances and luxury: oriental harems and Serail have fascinated the imagination of people all over Europe in the 18th century. During this period, harem ladies received a high profile education in music, literature, rhetoric and science – they were not only an object of desire, but contributed to intellectual and artistic education and way of life of the Ottoman princes.

In the Christian Europe, nobody knew what was really happening in the harem. This lack of information about one of the most secret parts of the Palace is the origin of all sort of fantasies and myths – a fascination, which is still nowadays linked with the Harem. Both occidental works here, the ballet music “Les Fêtes du Sérailles” by Christian Cannabich, here recorded for the very first time, and Mozart’s opera “Zaide” deal with this subject.

Contents:
1. Les Fêtes du Seraïlles, ballet: No.22 Contredance. Allegro
2. Improvisation on 'Ruhe sanft' from Mozart's Zaïde, for solo qanún
3. Zaide, opera, K.344 (K.336b): No.3 Aria. Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben
4. Improvisation on Serif Çelebi's 'Rast Pesrev', for solo oud
5. Rast Pesrev, for traditional ensemble
6. Les Fêtes du Seraïlles, ballet: No.1 Ouvertura. Allegro spiritoso
7. Les Fêtes du Seraïlles, ballet: No.2 Andantino
8. Les Fêtes du Seraïlles, ballet: No.3 Marcia, ma galante
9. Nisabur Pesrev, for traditional ensemble
10. Ferahnâk Yürük Semâi, for voice & traditional ensemble
11. Les Fêtes du Seraïlles, ballet: No.5 Gustoso
12. Zaide, opera, K.344 (K.336b): No.4 Aria. Rase, Schicksal, wüte immer
13. Zaide, opera, K.344 (K.336b): No.5 Duetto. Meine Seele hüpft vor Freuden
14. Les Fêtes du Seraïlles, ballet: No.16 Giocoso. Allegro
15. Improvisation on 'Sûz-i Dilârâ Beste' by Sultan Bayazit Hann II, for ney, qanún & oud
16. Sûz-i Dilârâ Beste, for traditional ensemble   
17. Zaide, opera, K. 344 (K.336b): No.13 Aria. Tiger, wetze nur die Klauen   
18. Nevâ Ceng-i Harbi, for traditional ensemble   
19. Improvisation for voice & traditional ensemble   
20. Benefsezar Pesrev, for traditional ensemble   
21. Hisarbûselik Sarki, for voice & traditional ensemble   
22. Werner Ehrhardt and Mehmet Cemal Yesilçay in interview