Max Emanuel Cencic; Armonia Atenea
Release Date: 20 October 2023
Label: Parnassus Arts
Packaging Type: Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 9120104870031
Description
Nicola Porpora was Farinelli's teacher and a rival of Handel and Hasse. As one of the most enigmatic figures of the musical baroque, he gave decisive impetus to opera development in the first half of the 18th century.
Parnassus Arts is delighted to present the World Premiere recording of Porpora's Polifemo.
He worked in Italy - especially in his native Naples - but also in London, Dresden and Vienna. This London opera (1735) was performed by the Opera of the Nobility at the King's Theatre during the same season that Handel premiered Ariodante and Alcina across town at Covent Garden.
The libretto by Paolo Rolli is based on two well-known Greek myths, both linked to the Cyclops Polyphemus: the story about the nymph Galatea and the shepherd Acis, and the encounter with Odysseus, which ends less than favourably for the one-eyed giant.
Polifemo provided direct competition to Alcina; indeed, two of the Opera of the Nobility's singers had as recently as 1732 sung for Handel in his bilingual version of Acis and Galatea, the same story as Polifemo.
The manuscript score is currently stored in the British Library; this premiere recording is well overdue for such an important work.
"Like the Carlo il Calvo recording, this is an obvious addition to the 'want list' of Lezhneva admirers." – Opera Magazine
"there is unquestionable commitment from all involved with this landmark recording, which confirms beyond any doubt that Porpora's London works offer musical and dramatic riches to anyone inquisitive enough to risk producing them." – Gramophone
Tracklisting
Max Emanuel Cencic; Armonia Atenea
Fagioli; Cencic; Lezhneva; Jerosme; Nekoranec; Armonia Atenea
Soloists; Orkiestra Historyczna; Martyna Pastuszka
Polina Pastirchak, Anke Vondung, Sungmin Song, Milan Siljanov, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bochumer Symphoniker,
Kammerchor Stuttgart; Barockorchester Stuttgart; Frieder Bernius; Hannah Morrison; Franziska Bobe;
Choralchor der St. Johannis-Kantorei Rostock
Capella Daleminzia, Capella Vocale Waldheim, Rene Michael Roder
Gewandhaus Children's Choir, Frank-Steffen Elster, Gewandhaus Youth Choir, Gewandhaus Choir, Gregor
Aukso - Chamber Orchestra Of The City Of Tychy, Camerata Silesia Katowice City Singers' Ensemble, Marek Mos
Herbert von Karajan; The Philharmonia Orchestra; Berliner Philharmoniker
Soloists, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Bruggen
