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
Laefer Quartet
Lina Tur Bonet, Musica Alchemica
Christophe Coin; Orquesta Barroca De Sevilla
Miriam Feuersinger; Capricornus Consort Basel
Michael Oman; Amandine Beyer; Austrian Baroque Company
Marco Beasley; Constantinople; Kiya Tabassian
I Zefirelli
Francesco Galligioni
Renato Dolcini; Sonia Prina; Loriana Castellano; Raffaele Pe; Lucia Cirillo; Valeria La Grotta; Alb
Karen Gardeazabal; Agata Schmidt; Agnieszka Rehlis; Petr Nekoranec; Artur Rucinski; Pawel Konik; Ma
Michael Volle; Anja Kampe; Andreas Schager; Mika Kares; Johannes Martin Kranzle; Claudia Mahnke; Ro
Martina Dike; Ulrika Mjorndal; Daniel Hallstrom; Bengt Krantz; Malmo Opera Orchestra; Malmo Opera C
Marcell Bakonyi; Marian Pop; Lukas Siebert; Sung Kyu Park; Gabriel Fortunas; Ania Jeruc; Julia Ruti
Anna Moffo; Richard Tucker; Robert Merrill; Rome Oper Orchestra and Chorus; Erich Leinsdorf
Samueol Park; Edith Grossman; Sangmin Jeon; Erik Rousi; Mariya Taniguchi; Zachary Wilson; Mira Ilin
Adriana Gonzalez; Johannes Pramsohler; Ensemble Diderot; Inaki Encina Oyon
