Camilla de Rossi is one of the most mysterious figures in music history. She was one of only a handful of women who composed music...

Camilla de Rossi is one of the most mysterious figures in music history. She was one of only a handful of women who composed music in Austria and Northern Italy during the period between 1670 and 1725. No biographical information remains on de Rossi, however she has the most surviving works amongst her female contemporaries. One of the few known facts about her is that she was of Roman descent, as she signed all of her compositions “Romana” which means a woman of Roman descent. Sant’Alessio, featured on this recording, was one of four oratorios that de Rossi composed under commission by Emperor Joseph I of Austria.