L'Olimpiade
Chryssicos with a new pasticcio for London’s Olympic year
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Leonardo Leo, Domenico Cimarosa, Antonio Caldara, David Perez, Tommaso (Michele Francesco Saverio) Traetta, Giuseppe Sarti, Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Florian Leopold Gassmann, Josef Myslivecek, Nicolò Jommelli, (Vito) Niccolò (Marcello Antonio Giacomo) Piccinni, Giovanni Pergolesi, Baldassare Galuppi, Giovanni Paisiello, Luigi (Carlo Zanobi Salvadore Maria) Cherubini, Antonio Vivaldi
Genre:
Opera
Label: Naïve
Magazine Review Date:
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 123
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: V5295
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: Superbo di me stesso |
Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Quel destrier, che all'albergo è vicino |
Baldassare Galuppi, Composer
Baldassare Galuppi, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Oh care selve, oh cara felice libertà! |
Giuseppe Sarti, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Giuseppe Sarti, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L') olimpiade, Movement: Del destin non vi lagnate |
Josef Myslivecek, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Josef Myslivecek, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Tu di saper procura |
Giovanni Paisiello, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Giovanni Paisiello, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Più non si trovano |
David Perez, Composer
David Perez, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L') Olimpiade, Movement: Mentre dormi, Amor fomenti |
Antonio Vivaldi, Composer
Antonio Vivaldi, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Ne’ giorni tuoi felici |
Florian Leopold Gassmann, Composer
Florian Leopold Gassmann, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Grandi, è ver, son le tue pene |
Antonio Caldara, Composer
Antonio Caldara, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: Che non mi disse un dì! |
Tommaso (Michele Francesco Saverio) Traetta, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Tommaso (Michele Francesco Saverio) Traetta, Composer Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: Siam navi all'onde algenti |
Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: Del forte Licida |
Tommaso (Michele Francesco Saverio) Traetta, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Tommaso (Michele Francesco Saverio) Traetta, Composer Venice Baroque Orchestra |
So ch'è fanciullo Amore |
Nicolò Jommelli, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Nicolò Jommelli, Composer Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Se cerca, se dice: 'L'amico dov'è?' |
Luigi (Carlo Zanobi Salvadore Maria) Cherubini, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Luigi (Carlo Zanobi Salvadore Maria) Cherubini, Composer Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Tu me da me dividi |
Leonardo Leo, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Leonardo Leo, Composer Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L') Olimpiade, Movement: No, la speranza più non mi alletta |
Giovanni Pergolesi, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Giovanni Pergolesi, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L') Olimpiade, Movement: Gemo in un punto, e fremo |
Baldassare Galuppi, Composer
Baldassare Galuppi, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Caro, son tua così |
(Vito) Niccolò (Marcello Antonio Giacomo) Piccinni, Composer
(Vito) Niccolò (Marcello Antonio Giacomo) Piccinni, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Lo seguitai felice |
Nicolò Jommelli, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Nicolò Jommelli, Composer Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Fiamma ignota nell'alma mi scende |
David Perez, Composer
David Perez, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: Son qual per mare ignoto |
Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: I tuoi strali terror de' mortali |
Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Non sò donde viene |
Domenico Cimarosa, Composer
Domenico Cimarosa, Composer Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
(L')Olimpiade, Movement: Viva il figlio delinquente |
Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer
Franziska Gottwald, Mezzo soprano Johann (Adolph) Hasse, Composer Karina Gauvin, Soprano Markellos Chryssicos, Conductor Nicholas Phan, Tenor Nicholas Spanos, Countertenor Romina Basso, Mezzo soprano Ruth Rosique, Soprano Venice Baroque Orchestra |
Author: Richard Wigmore
The story uses the ancient Olympic Games as a background for love rivalry, improbable deceptions, narrowly averted patricide and incest, and the eventual triumph of youthful virtue (represented by the pairings of Licida and Argene, Megacle and Aristea) over the curses of the older generation embodied by Aristea’s father King Clistene. Into the mix go arias (plus one duet and a couple of brief choruses) by 16 composers of Olimpiade operas, ranging from Caldara and Vivaldi in the 1730s to Cimarosa and Cherubini in the 1780s. The time span involved rules out any stylistic coherence; and, with no interlinking recitative, the plot is impossible to follow from the music alone. Still, if you treat the discs as a succession of concert arias, there is plenty to enjoy here. In several numbers the frills and fripperies of mid-century galanterie hardly seem adequate to the character’s predicament. But there are impressive bravura arias by Hasse, Jommelli and the once-famous, now virtually forgotten Davide Perez. The Cretan Princess Argene has some of the finest music, including a tender idyll, with pastoral flutes, by Sarti, and an impassioned minor-key aria by Traetta. Most memorable of all is Vivaldi’s dreamy lullaby for Licida, ostensibly sung to his friend Megacle as he fantasises about Aristea.
Directed, appropriately, by the Greek harpsichordist Markellos Chryssicos, the Venice Baroque Orchestra play with their trademark zest and colour. The strings seethe and crackle in the obligatory ‘vengeance’ and ‘shipwreck’ arias. If the soloists can be word-shy, all sing with skill and stylistic understanding. Although Megacle’s arias sometimes lie a shade low for her, Romina Basso impresses with her fiery temperament and scintillating coloratura. Franziska Gottwald, likewise occasionally stretched in low-lying music, catches the drowsy sensuality of the Vivaldi lullaby. As King Clistene, Nicholas Phan fields a compact, mellifluous tenor; and Spanish soprano Ruth Rosique – a name new to me – sings with charm and spirit, not least in a pretty minuet song whose opening Piccinni cribbed from Gluck’s Orfeo. The palm, though, goes to Karina Gauvin’s Argene, dulcet-toned in her pastoral idyll, slyly witty in her cynical ‘that’s love for you’ aria (Perez), and finding a new depth and intensity for the Traetta aria. Recording and presentation are first-rate, with texts and translations and an eloquent essay in defence of the pasticcio by Reinhard Strohm.
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