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
La Petite Bande; Sigiswald Kuijken
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
Florent Baffi; Le Balcon; Rene Ramos Premier; Sean Clayton; Adele Carlier; Juliette Allen; Helene F
Welsh National Opera Company; Welsh National Opera Chorus; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; B
Raffaella Milanesi; Giacomo Nanni; Shaked Bar; Francesca Ascioti; Silvia Frigato; Furio Zanasi; Rob
Nahuel Di Pierro; Enea Scala; Giuliana Gianfaldoni; Maria Elena Pepi; Coro dell'Accademia Teatro al
Konu Kim; Zuzana Markova; Cecilia Molinari; Tuty Hernandez; Lilla Takacs; Valerio Morelli; Orchestr
Danielle Reutter-Harrah; Teresa Wakim; Mireille Lebel; James Reese; Jason McStoots; Aaron Sheehan;
Anna Netrebko; Yusif Eyvazov; Carlo Bosi; Maria Teresa Leva; Ferruccio Furlanetto; Chorus of the Ar
Anna Goryachova; Melissa Petit; Antonino Siragusa; Andreas Wolf; Prague Philharmonic Choir; Wiener
