Composer: Barbara Strozzi
Performer: Renata Dubinskaité, Canto Fiorito
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Brilliant Classics
Catalogue: 96436
Release: 2021
Size: 276 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Cantate, ariette e duettu, Op. 2: I. L’amante segreto
02. Cantate, ariette e duettu, Op. 2: II. Riamata da chi amava
03. Cantate, ariete a una, due e tre voci, Op. 3: I. Moralitá amorosa
04. Sacri musicali affetti, Op. 5: I. O Maria, quam pulchra es
05. Ariette e voce sola, Op. 6: I. Parla alli suoi pensieri
06. Ariette e voce sola, Op. 6: II. Non vuole amar più
07. Diporto di Euterpe, Op. 7: I. Lagrime mie
08. Cantata à voce sola di diversi auttori: I. Havete torto
09. Diporti di Euterpe, Op. 7: II. Sino alla morte
10. Che si puo fare, arie, Op. 8
An homage to the Baroque singer and composer Barbara Strozzi (1619–1677), this album is titled “La voce sola”. That final word, “single”, “only” or “alone”, points to the fact that most of Strozzi’s works are written for solo voice, usually her own, a fact that makes her music especially intimate and personal. It emphasises the uniqueness of her musical language and her distinctive voice as a composer but also refers to the difficulties of her striving alone in her personal and creative endeavours. This recital is a career survey of this great composer, from her first collections to her last opus, in chronological order, including a world-premiere recording of a work with no opus number.
Barbara Strozzi was born in Venice, the illegitimate daughter of Giulio Strozzi, who came from a powerful noble family, and his servant Isabella Griega. She was among the most prolific composers of secular chamber music at that time, established herself firmly in the history of music with her eight published collections of works, and contributed to the creation of a new genre, the cantata. Strozzi was a woman with a unique life story. She had to fight more than most for the right to compose music, could not hope to gain an official post as a composer because of her gender, and had to go against many social norms in order to become an independent artist in a male-dominated society.
This album is a homage to the Baroque singer and composer Barbara Strozzi (1619–1677), one of the greatest Italian composers of the seventeenth century, and one of the first women to write music. She was born in Venice, the illegitimate daughter of Giulio Strozzi, who came from a powerful noble family, and his servant Isabella Griega. She was among the most prolific composers of secular chamber music at that time, established herself firmly in the history of music with her eight published collections of works, and contributed to the creation of a new genre, the cantata. Strozzi was a woman with a unique life story. She had to fight more than most for the right to compose music, could not hope to gain an official post as a composer because of her gender, and had to go against many social norms in order to become an independent artist in a male-dominated society.
The word sola in the title of the CD means ‘single’, ‘only’ or ‘alone’. It points to the fact that most of Strozzi’s works are written for solo voice, usually her own, which makes her music especially intimate and personal. The works presented on this new recording consist of secular cantatas, arias and sacred motets.
After obtaining a PhD in art history and theory, Renata Dubinskaitė turned to music, and graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in opera singing in 2015. Under teachers such as María Cristina Kiehr, Barbara Bonney, Paul Eswood and others, Dubinskaitė specialises in the Baroque repertoire and other early music. • The excellent liner notes in the booklet are written by the artist. Sung texts and translations are included.