This CD brings together Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian and the Café Zimmermann ensemble, conducted by Pablo Valetti. It offers a journey through the many facets of Vivaldi, with opera arias and concertos following one another like changing, expressive masks, in keeping with the spirit of Venice and its carnival. 
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Released on January 16, 2026, Masques brings together Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian and the ensemble Café Zimmermann to perform Vivaldi. Thus, the album explores his vocal and instrumental writing, combining opera arias and concertos for multiple instruments.The concept of “mask” runs through the album, highlighting the many characters in Vivaldi’s music and creating a clear, coherent thread.
The program opens with the sinfonia from Il Bajazet, RV 703, written for the Verona opera in 1735.
This piece balances virtuosity, dramatic tension, and original horn accompaniment, offering a first color to the program. The opera arias, such as I lacci tende più forti and Sol da te, mio dolce amore, are performed by the alto. Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian brings expressive, clear, and deeply nuanced interpretations, while dialoguing harmoniously with the ensemble.
Moreover, the instrumental concertos complete the program and explore Vivaldi’s richness and variety of colors. The Violin Concerto RV 241 and the Flute Concerto RV 434 alternate brilliance and subtlety, enriching the listening experience. In addition, the Concerto for Two Horns RV 538 illustrates virtuosity, dialogue, and orchestral richness in a striking way.
Café Zimmermann delivers these works with precision and energy, maintaining balance and clarity in every musical line. Thus, Masques emerges as a coherent and rich recording, revealing the expressive diversity and enduring modernity of Vivaldi.
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