Luigi De Donato; Collegium 1704; Vaclav Luks
Description
Polyphemus, a cyclops of ancient Greek legend with one eye and three fingers on each hand, became a central figure in many myths and in their musical settings by Baroque composers.
This son of Poseidon, a giant of insurmountable strength, appears in many fables, the best known of which are his encounters Odysseus during the hero's homeward journey and with Theseus, who kills Polyphemus.
The Italian bass Luigi De Donato has the right voice and temperament to represent the ideal embodiment of Polyphemus, and together with Collegium 1704 under the baton of Vaclav Luks he breathes life into ancient Greek legends. This new recording features arias from Handel, Porpora, Alberti and Bononcini. He is a multitalented musician and singer and has distinguished himself as one of the foremost interpreters of the repertoire of the 17th and 18th century working with leading conductors and Baroque ensembles.
"his control of the vertiginous intervals and the resonance of his voice are very impressive indeed" – BBC Music Magazine ****
"Luigi De Donato is accompanied by the excellent Collegium 1704, a wonderfully flexible Czech ensemble on period instruments, skillfully conducted by Vaclav Luks" – Pizzicato ****
Tracklisting
Piccolo Concerto Wien; Echo du Danube
St. Florianer Sangerknaben; Ars Antiqua Austria; Gunar Letzbor
Collegium 1704, Vaclav Luks
Xenia Loffler
Marcel Ponseele, Il Gardellino
Margret Koell; Stefan Temmingh
Dorothee Mields, Lautten Compagney
Florian Deuter; Monica Waisman; Harmonie Universelle
Piotr Beczala; Keri Alkema; Carlos Alvarez; Dolora Zajick; Katerina Tretyakova; Chorus of the Gran
Olga Kulchynska; Andrei Zhilikhovsky; Arsen Soghomonyan; Violeta Urmana; Olga Guryakova; Mischa Sch
Andreas Homoki; Philharmonia Zurich; Tomasz Konieczny; Camilly Nylund; Klaus Florian Vogt; Wolfgang
Juan Francisco Gatell; Anna Prohaska; Sara Blanch; Arno Schuitemaker's Ballet Company; Orchestra e
Lisette Oropesa; Vito Priante; Levy Sekgapane; Matteo Macchioni; Davide Giangregorio; Coro del Teat
Yeree Suh; Markus Schafer; Daniel Ochoa; Niklas Mallmann; Anna Feith; Anna-Doris Capitelli; Philipp
Orchester und Chor der Wiener Staatsoper; Kurt Rydl; Marian Talaba; Angela Desnoke; Misha Didyk; Do
Charlie Drummond; Yvonne Howard; William Morgan; Richard Suart; Mark Nathan; Ben McAteer; Catriona
