Composer: Francesco Mancini, Domenico Sarro, Giuseppe Porsile, Nicola Fiorenza, Alessandro Scarlatti
Performer: Barbara Heindlmeier, Maria Ladurner, La Festa Musicale
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Audite
Catalogue: AUDITE97800
Release: 2022
Size: 1.15 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Mancini: Concerto VIII in C Minor from 24 Concerti di Napoli for Recorder, 2 Violins and Basso Continuo
01. I. Vivace
Sarro: La Partenope
02. Begl’occhi del mio Ben
Mancini: Concerto VIII in C Minor from 24 Concerti di Napoli for Recorder, 2 Violins and Basso Continuo
03. II. Largo e Staccato
04. III. Fuga – Allegro
05. IV. Largo
06. V. Allegro
Porsile: Il ritorno D’Ulisse
07. Nel mio petto due Tiranni
Fiorenza: Concerto in A Minor for 3 Violins, Viola and Basso Continuo
08. I. Andante Lento
09. II. Allegro
10. III. Largo
11. IV. Allegro
Fiorenza: Concerto in F Minor for Recorder, Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo
12. I. Largo / Presto – Largo – Largo / Presto
13. II. Allegro ma non Presto
Scarlatti: Il giardino di Rose:
14. Mentr’io godo in dolce Oblio
Fiorenza: Concerto in F Minor for Recorder, Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo
15. IV. Allegro
Scarlatti: Il giardino di Rose
16. Ecco negli orti Tuoi
17. Che dolce Simpatia
Sarro: Concerto XI in A Minor from 24 Concerti di Napoli for Recorder, Strings and Basso Continuo
18. I. Largo
19. II. Allegro
20. III. Larghetto
21. IV. Spiritoso
Porsile: Cantata sopra L’Arcecalascione
22. Sfogandose nel Juorno
23. Schiaresce L’arba
24. anon.: Tarantella Napoletana
Scarlatti: Il Comodo Antonio
25. Cara è dolce Rimembranza (Bonus Track)
“Storie di Napoli” is la festa musicale’s third album for audite, presenting an innovative approach towards the varied and expressive Neapolitan baroque repertoire. Sensual arias and virtuoso concertos by composers such as Alessandro Scarlatti, Francesco Mancini and Nicola Fiorenza are collaged into a sonic-narrative telling Naples’ best stories from the baroque heyday of what was then Europe’s third-largest metropolis. These include an encounter with the seductive siren Parthenope who, according to mythology, founded the city; a visit to Naples’ multi-layered underworld with surprising twists and turns; and the exuberant atmosphere of typical Neapolitan street life, full of festivities and joie de vivre.
Together with the young and promising soprano Maria Ladurner and under the direction of the renowned recorder player Barbara Heindlmeier, who is known for innovative concepts, la festa musicale breaks new ground with this project. On occasion the movements of the concertos are broken up, weaving arias amongst them. This allows a new overarching plot line to be told, skilfully capturing the manifold facets of this fascinating city.
The North German baroque ensemble la festa musicale stands for excellent artistic standards, which are reflected in creative, cross-disciplinary concert formats and top-class co-operation projects. Alongside well-known works, “”Storie di Napoli” also features rarely-heard discoveries and a premiere recording of the aria “Nel mio petto” (from Il ritorno d’Ulisse) by Giuseppe Porsile.
The richness of colour, the emotional density and the fast-moving contrasts of this repertoire are reflected by the ensemble using variable instrumentation as well as – entirely in keeping with the baroque art of ornamentation and improvisation – adding their own contributions, such as in the lively Tarantella napoletana alla festa musicale.