Track Listing 1. Dorilla in Tempe, RV 709: Dell 'aura al sussurrar 2. Il Farnace, RV 711: Gelido in ogni vena 3. La fida ninfa, RV 714: Dite Ohimè 4. L'Olimpiade, RV 725: Siam navi all'onde algenti 5. L'Orlando finto pazzo: Anderó, Voleró, Grideró 6. Il Teuzzone, RV 736: Di trombe guerriere 7. Ercole sul Termodonte, RV 710: Zefiretti che sussurate 8. Giustino, RV 717: Sventurata navicella 9. Giustino, RV 717: Ho nel petto un cor si forte 10. La fida ninfa, RV 714: Alma oppressa 11. Bajazet, RV 703 "Tamerlano": Anche il mar par che sommerga 12. Griselda, RV 718: Dopo un orrida procella 13. Di due rai languir costante, RV 749 no 4
| Details | | Playing Time: | 67 min. | | Contributing Artists: | Enrico Onofri, Marco Bianchi | | Distributor: | Universal Distribution | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | DDD |
Album Notes This selection received a Grammy Award for "Best Classical Vocal Performance." Is it good luck or bad? Vivaldi had the good fortune to be the busiest of opera composers in Venice in the early 18th century, but over time, as conventions of the genre changed, most of the operas from this period were forgotten. It would be wrong to conclude that this had much to do with their merits, though, and it is very good luck to be able to hear this disc of selections from ten of Vivaldi's operas, as they are so exuberantly sung by the great coloratura mezzo Cecilia Bartoli and accompanied by the members of Il Giardino Armonico, one of the best of all period instrument outfits, who sound as if this music is their birthright. There are some familiar bits, such as the opening chorus from 'Dorilla in Tempe,' which is based on the beginning of the "Spring" concerto from 'The Four Seasons,' but most of what is here is new and intriguing, such as the three part aria "Zefferetti, che sussurate" with its echo effects and "Ho nel petto un cor si forte" from 'Giustino' an extended, slowly unfolding dramatic aria which features the unusual tone color of the psaltery, a relative of the dulcimer and zither. Others, such as "Dite oime" from 'La Fida Ninfa' or "Gelido in ogni vena" from 'Farnace' are just haunting and lovely, opera at its best. This is real discovered treasure.
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