O Divertimento Nos Seculos XVIII, XIX E XX

Released in 1989 by the Philips label, O Divertimento Nos Seculos XVIII, XIX E XX showcases the Orquestra de Câmara La Folia under the direction of conductor Abel Rocha. The record serves as a curated exploration of the divertimento, a musical form that rose to prominence in the mid-18th century as light, entertaining chamber music intended for social gatherings and courtly entertainment, evolving through the subsequent centuries as composers adapted the style for larger ensembles and more concert-oriented settings.

The production reflects the late-20th-century movement toward reviving historical chamber music traditions with modern recording clarity. By grouping pieces spanning three centuries, the ensemble aimed to provide listeners with a cohesive narrative on how the structure of the divertimento shifted from its aristocratic origins in the 1700s into the romantic and early-modern aesthetics of the 19th and 20th centuries. The album remains a focused example of the classical repertoire supported by Philips, a label long respected for its commitment to documenting high-fidelity orchestral and chamber music performances.