Esfera Armoniosa takes its name from the celebrated collection of compositions by the Italian musician Paolo Quagliati, a prominent figure of the seventeenth century. Inspired by the Seconda Pratica, an essential Baroque style, the ensemble revives the spirit of works composed for voice, obbligato melodic instrument, and basso continuo.
Founded in 2006 by Claudia Liliana Gantívar, the group brings together musicians trained at renowned European and American institutions, united by a deep passion for historically informed performance. Its repertoire spans from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century, allowing for a flexible structure that adapts to each program. The ensemble performs on faithful copies of historical instruments, ensuring an authentic sound world that closely reflects that of the period.
Throughout its trajectory, Esfera Armoniosa has performed on important stages in Colombia and participated in major festivals such as the Festival de Música Sacra de Pamplona, the Encuentro de Música Antigua de Villa de Leyva, the Festival Internacional de Música Sacra de Bogotá, and, more recently, the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo in Bogotá. The ensemble was selected by the Banco de la República to undertake national tours in 2008 and 2015, and has represented Colombia internationally at festivals in Peru (Lima and Arequipa, 2012), Ecuador (Quito, 2016), and the United States (California, 2017).
The ensemble has released two recordings: Io vo cantar (2011), dedicated to early Italian Baroque music, and Qué dulce violencia (2015), a tribute to composers influenced by the Hispanic tradition, supported by the Universidad de los Andes.
In recent years, Esfera Armoniosa has developed collaborative projects with ensembles such as Ministriles de la Nueva Granada and Extempore, consolidating its role as a leading reference for early music in Colombia. In 2024, it also collaborated with Música Ficta in the recording of music from the Bogotá Cathedral Archive.
