The choir Harmonia Cantata was founded in 1977 by Maestro Elio Lippi, who continued to direct it until 1999.
The choir began its activity at the Fiesole School of Music. It later became an independent Choral Association and since 1997 it has collaborated with prominent Italian and international musical institutions.
Careful study of the music pieces and special attention dedicated to the development of the vocal qualities of each singer allowed Harmonia Cantata to distinguish itself among other Tuscan amateur choral groups.
The choir has participated in many important events, such as the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Estate Fiesolana, Accademia Musicale Chigiana and Accademia Filarmonica Romana, and it has worked with Orchestra Giovanile Italiana (OGI) and Orchestra della Toscana (ORT).
The choir's repertoire ranges from the eighteenth century to contemporary music, including several premiere performances as well as opera music: it comprises works by composers belonging to the classical period, such as Mozart (Requiem, Coronation Mass, Vesperae Solemnes de Confessore), Cherubini (Requiem, Messa Solenne in D min., Credo for two choirs) and Rossini (Petite Messe Solennelle), to Romanticism, like Brahms (Zigeunerlieder, Schicksalslied, Nänie) and Schubert (several Masses, Stabat Mater), and even to the twentieth century, with works by Stravinsky (Les Noches), Orff (Carmina Burana, Catulli Carmina), Menotti (Mass O Pulchritudo) as well as Weill, Milhaud, Britten and others.
The choir’s experience with contemporary music includes works by composers such as Manzoni, Porena and Vinko Globokar, polyphonic and early music like Intermezzi della Pellegrina, thirteenth century Llibre Vermell, sixteenth century Paolo Aretino's Passio and Francesco Corteccia's Passione di Christo secondo Giovanni.
The trilogy of Mozart-Da Ponte and operas by Rossini and Leoncavallo represent the choir's main experiences within opera music.
Harmonia Cantata received very positive acclaim from both audiences and critics while being led by numerous renowned conductors: S. Accardo, M. Balderi, P. Bellugi, C. Desderi, R. Gabbiani, E. Inbal, Lu Jia, N. Paszkowzky, A. Pinzauti, A. Vlad, D. Giorgi among others.
In addition, as part of the Choirs of Tuscany Association, Harmonia Cantata has been conducted by B. Bartoletti, R. Clemencic, M. De Bernart, F. Leitner, P. Maag and M. Panni.
The choir currently collaborates with the Chamber Orchestra of Florence and with I Solisti Fiorentini directed by P. L. Horvath.
Maestro Marco Balderi has frequently conducted the choir, for instance in Mendelssohn's Te Deum (2009) and Liszt's Via Crucis, with the participation of pianist Gregorio Nardi (2011).
In 2011 the choir performed with ORT-Orchestra della Toscana at the Estate Fiesolana in a concert dedicated to St. Petersburg (with music of Tchaikovsky).
In February 2012 the choir performed Schubert's Rosamunde with the Camerata Strumentale di Prato, conducted by Alessandro Pinzauti and with soloist Monica Bacelli. In March of the same year it performed Brahms' Nänie and Schicksalslied with the Orchestra Pistoiese Promusica conducted by Daniele Giorgi.
In 2013 the choir celebrated its 35th anniversary performing Brahms' Deutsches Requiem in the four-hands piano version played by Beatrice Bartoli and Andrea Secchi.
On the same occasion, Maestro Elio Lippi received the "Marzocco Prize" of the City of Florence for his work with the choir.
In November 2013, Harmonia Cantata performed Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, conducted by Oleg Caetani.
In 2015 the choir performed Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, with soloists Eva Mei, Filippo Adami, Marina Comparato and Ugo Guagliardo. Moreover, as part of the "Micat in Vertice" festival by Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Harmonia Cantata performed Brahms' Deutsches Requiem (with Andrea Secchi and Beatrice Bartoli on the piano and soloists Gabriele Spina and Giulia Tamarri).
After Maestro Lippi, who is currently the Artistic Director of the choir, Harmonia Cantata has been directed by G. B. Varoli, L. Fratini and E. Sepe.
Raffaele Puccianti has been directing the choir since October 2010, with the collaboration of pianist Beatrice Bartoli.