Vivaldi ~ Juditha triumphans
Na�ve | 18 septembre 2001 | Classical | APE+CUE | 3% Recovery | 3CDs | 735 MB | Covers
Vivaldi may be best remembered for his virtuosic concertos but, as anyone familiar with his famous D major Gloria will know, he also had a real ear for vocal sonorities. His only surviving oratorio, Juditha Triumphans, has until recently been a well-kept secret. The biblical story of Judith overcoming Holofernes and his army (beheading him herself--no shrinking violet she) was popular with both librettists and composers, offering plenty of opportunities for exuberant tub-thumping. And these Vivaldi seizes eagerly, the opening rabble-rousing chorus (here preceded by a sinfonia reconstructed by Vivaldi scholar Michael Talbot) setting the tone in truly martial fashion.
However, Juditha also abounds in reflective numbers, something at which Vivaldi excels. Perhaps the most striking examples are the ethereal "turtle dove" aria ("Veni sequere fida"), with our heroine beautifully accompanied by a chalumeau (a precursor of the clarinet), the tranquil "Vivat in pace," and the sublime "Umbrae carae", here lyrically sung by Marina Comparato. The all-female lineup (five solo characters plus, on this particular recording, an all-female chorus) is a strong one. And, vitally, the soloists are well-differentiated, each with immediately recognizable timbres. Magdalena Kozena is fruity in the title role: not the kind of voice you'd necessarily associate with this repertoire, but it does turn a potentially smug heroine into one of real flesh and blood. Maria Jos� Trullu is an opulent Holofernes, while Anke Herrmann's Abra is attractively mellow voiced. Downers? Just one--the recorded sound, which is too echoey. Overall, though, this is a fine performance of a great work and one that deserves a place on the shelves of every lover of Baroque music. --
Harriet Smith
Disque : 1
1. Sinfonia, Rv562 : Allegro
2. Sinfonia, Rv562 : Grave
3. 1�re Partie : Arma, Caedes, Vindictae, Furores
4. 1�re Partie : Felix En Fausta Dies
5. 1�re Partie : Nil Arma, Nil Bella
6. 1�re Partie : Mi Dux, Domine Mi
7. 1�re Partie : Matrona Inimica
8. 1�re Partie : Huc Accedot Matrona
9. 1�re Partie : Quocum Patriae Me Ducit Amore
10. 1�re Partie : Ne Timeas Non, Laetare
11. 1�re Partie : Vultus Tui Vago Splendori
12. 1�re Partie : Vide, Humilis Prostrata
13. 1�re Partie : O Quam Vaga, Venusta, O Quam Decora
14. 1�re Partie : Quem Vides Prope, Aspectu
15. 1�re Partie : Quamvis Ferro, Et Ense Gravis
16. 1�re Partie : Quid Cerno! Oculi Mei
17. 1�re Partie : Quanto Magis Generosa
Disque : 2
1. 1�re Partie : Magna, O Foemina Petis
2. 1�re Partie : Sede, O Cara
3. 1�re Partie : Tu Judex Es, Tu Dominus, Tu Potens
4. 1�re Partie : Agitata Infido Flatu
5. 1�re Partie : In Tentorio Supernae
6. 1�re Partie : O Servi, Volate
7. 1�re Partie : Tu Quoque Hebraica Ancilla
8. 1�re Partie : Veni, Me Sequere Fida
9. 1�re Partie : Venio Juditha, Venio Animo Fave
10. 1�re Partie : Fulgeat Sol Frontis Decorae
11. 1�re Partie : In Urbe Interim Pia
12. 1�re Partie : Mundi Rector De Caelo Micanti
13. 2�me Partie : Summi Regis In Mente
14. 2�me Partie : O Sydera, O Stellae
15. 2�me Partie : Jam Servientis In Hostem
16. 2�me Partie : Nox In Umbra Dum Surgit
17. 2�me Partie : Nox Oscura Tenebrosa
18. 2�me Partie : Belligerae, Meae Sorti
19. 2�me Partie : Transit Aetas
Disque : 3
1. 2�me Partie : Haec In Crastinum Serva, Ah, Nimis Vere
2. 2�me Partie : Noli O Cara Te Adorantis
3. 2�me Partie : Tibi Dona Salutis
4. 2�me Partie : Plena Nectare Non Mero
5. 2�me Partie : Tormenta Mentis Tuae Fugiant A Corde
6. 2�me Partie : Vivat In Pace, Et Pax Regnet Sincera
7. 2�me Partie : Sic In Pace Inter Hostes
8. 2�me Partie : Umbrae Caare, Aurae Adorata
9. 2�me Partie : Quae Fortunata Es Tu Vaga Matrona
10. 2�me Partie : Non Ita Reducem
11. 2�me Partie : Jam Pergo, Postes Claudo
12. 2�me Partie : Summe Astronum Creator
13. 2�me Partie : In Somno Profundo
14. 2�me Partie : Impii, Indigni Tiranni
15. 2�me Partie : Abra Accipe Munus
16. 2�me Partie : Si Fulgida Per Te
17. 2�me Partie : Jam Non Procul Ab Axe
18. 2�me Partie : Armatae Face, Et Anguibus
19. 2�me Partie : Quam Insolita Luce
20. 2�me Partie : Gaude Felix
21. 2�me Partie : Ita Decreto Aeterno
22. 2�me Partie : Salve Invicta Juditha Formosa
23. Matrona Inimica
24. O Servi, Volate
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Part 3Part 1 |
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Part 3