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
Xenia Loffler
Marcel Ponseele, Il Gardellino
Margret Koell; Stefan Temmingh
Dorothee Mields, Lautten Compagney
Florian Deuter; Monica Waisman; Harmonie Universelle
Aco Biscevic, Michael Hofstetter, Barockorchester der Thuringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach
Soloists; Les Traversees Baroques; Meyer
Luigi De Donato; Collegium 1704; Vaclav Luks
Martyn Brabbins, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers
Filippo Mineccia, Vivica Genaux, Roberta Mameli, Il Groviglio, Marco Angioloni
Francesco Ledda, Opera Discovery Orchestra, Stefanna Kybalova, Valer Borin, Marcello Lippi, Paolo B
Horst Wolf
Sophie Gordeladze, Hector Sandoval, Luca Grassi, Martin Piskorski, Rory Dunne, Cappella Aquileia, T
Tina Gorina; Vivica Genaux; Giulio Pelligra; German Olvera; Riccardo Novaro; Ugo Guagliardo; Pawel
Marta Torbidoni; David Astorga; German Olvera; Aleksey Bogdanov; Matheus Pompeu; Paulina Boreczko;
Anita Cerquetti
