Serenata and Festa teatrale. Music dramatic genres for aristocratic festivities This publication investigates the distinctive character and contexts of "Festa teatrale" and "Serenata" at a time when musical theatre was an integral part of the court ceremonial as well as a privileged ritual of "repraesentatio maiestatis". This implies an approach to these works full of metaphors and symbolic allusions which takes into account the context of celebration and the resulting multiplicity of aspects: the choice of themes, the dramaturgical forms, textual and musical structures, the vocal and instrumental ensembles, and the various options with regard to the stage apparatus. Contributions by Andrea Chegai, Teresa Chirico, Annarita Colturato, Giulia Giovani, Thomas Griffin, Ilaria Grippaudo, Armando Fabio Ivaldi, Danièle Lipp, Paologiovanni Maione, Giuseppina Raggi, Andrea Sommer-Mathis, Giovanni Polin, Paolo Russo, Giovanni Andrea Sechi, Silvia Tatti, Giada Viviani