Genre:
Opera
Release Date:
Mar 2016
Subtitles:
EN/FR/DE/IT/ES/NE
Sound Format:
2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS
Catalog Number:
OABD7194BD
Baroque Opera Classics (Various)
Sally Matthews (Deidamia (Deidamia)); Veronica Cangemi (Nerea (Deidamia); Iole (Ercole Amante)); Luca Pisaroni (Ercole (Ercole Amante)); Anders J. Dahlin (Zoroastre (Zoroastre)); Marina Comparato (Adriano (Adriano in Siria)); Lucia Cirillo (Emirena (Adriano in Siria)); Anna Bonitatibus (Didone (La Didone)); Kresimir Spicer (Enea (La Didone)); Lenka Máčiková (Marquise Clarice (Dove)); Aleš Briscein (Count Orazio (Dove));
La Didone is one of the earliest operas in existence, and Ercole Amante, at the time of its premiere, was the grandest show ever performed in Europe. By contrast, prior to its revival in the very Baroque gem of a theatre that hosted its premiere, the courtly farce Dove È Amore È Gelosia was virtually unknown, as was the hitherto neglected Deidamia, Handel’s final Italian opera. The 18th-century Baroque theatre machinery at Drottningholm lends authenticity to Rameau’s Zoroastre, as does the period Pergolesi Theatre at Jesi to the performance of Adriano in Siria. Sally Matthews is ‘captivating’ as Deidamia (New York Times), Anna Bonitatibus is an uncompromisingly intense Didone, and Luca Pisaroni’s Hercules is by turns heroic and melodious. Specialist ensembles, including Concerto Köln, Les Arts Florissants and Les Talens Lyriques,bring apt nuance and colour to these sumptuous productions showcasing worthy masterworks of the Baroque.
Handel - DEIDAMIA (De Nederlandse Opera)
Deidamia - Sally Matthews
Nerea - Veronica Cangemi
Achille - Olga Pasichnyk
Ulisse - Silvia Tro Santafé
Concerto Köln
Conductor - Ivor Bolton
Director - David Alden
Cavalli - LA DIDONE (Le Théâtre de Caen)
Didone - Anna Bonitatibus
Enea - Kresimir Spicer
Iarba - Xavier Sabata
Les Arts Florissants
Director - Clément Hervieu-Léger
Conductor - William Christie
Pergolesi -ADRIANO IN SIRIA (Pergolesi Spring Festival, Jesi, Ancona)
Adriano - Marina Comparato
Emirena - Lucia Cirillo
Farnaspe - Annamaria Dell’Oste
Sabina - Nicole Heaston
Accademia Bizantina
Director - Ignacio Garcia
Conductor - Ottavio Dantone
Cavalli - ERCOLE AMANTE (DNO)
Ercole - Luca Pisaroni
Iole - Veronica Cangemi
Illo - Jeremy Ovenden
Deianira - Anna Maria Panzarella
Concerto Köln / Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera
Conductor - Ivor Bolton
Director - David Alden
Rameau - ZOROASTRE (Drottningholm)
Zoroastre - Anders J Dahlin
Abramane Evgueniy Alexiev
Amélite - Sine Bundgaard
Erinice - Anna Maria Panzarella
The Drottningholm Theatre Orchestra and Chorus
Les Talens Lyriques
Conductor - Christophe Rousset
Director - Pierre Audi
Scarlatti -DOVE È AMORE È GELOSIA (The National Theatre Prague)
Marquise Clarice, widow - Lenka Máčiková
Count Orazio - Aleš Briscein
Vespetta - Kateřina Kněžíková
Schwarzenberg Court Orchestra
Conductor - Vojtěch Spurný
Director - Ondřej Havelka
Reviews
"Alden's approach is lightly ironic, matching well with a piece that treats its material with a knowing air...Ivor Bolton and Concerto Koln provide the expert musical underpinning. Sally Matthews shines as a vocally and physically poised Deidamia, Olga Pasichnyk emphasises the lusty young man hiding beneath Achille's skirts, and Silvia Tro Santafe's Ulisse presents him with a credible rival." (BBC Music Magazine - Deidamia ★★★★)
"With a small orchestra of solo strings, continuo and a couple of woodwind, the focus is very much on the declamatory skills of the singers. Anna Bonitatibus is outstanding, especially in her confrontation, impassioned but dignified, with Aeneas ..." (Gramophone - La Didone)
"This is the most impressive and engaging product of Pergolesi's anniversary year I've heard so far." (International Record Review - Adriano in Siria)
"This is a ravishing production in every department - scenery, stage effects, costumes, dancing, acting and music. Luca Pisaroni is an assured and vigorous Hercules - aided by action-man plastic muscles - but it is Cavalli’s women who steal the show" (BBC Music Magazine - Ercole Amante)
"After so many opera productions updated to modern dress, it is refreshing to have a thoroughly traditional production, set in the beautifully restored Drottingholm Court Theatre ... Casting in this production is first rate, with clean, firm voices the rule and with the dances, so important in Rameau operas, perfectly integrated. Christophe Rousset is the stylish conductor. A first-class set in every way." (The Penguin Guide - Zoroastre)
"... the theatre is the real star of the production...in truth nothing more seems necessary here than to sing and act with skill and wit, which the four Czech singers all manage very well ... The orchestral playing and conducting are neat and tidy ..." (Gramophone - Dove e Amore e Gelosia)