Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Virgin Classics
Size: 316 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Cavalli – Lasso io vivo (l’Egisto)
02. Monteverdi – Lamento della Ninfa
03. Strozzi – L’Eraclito amoroso
04. Monteverdi – Lamento d’Arianna
05. Landi – Superbe colli
06. Monteverdi – Addio Roma (L’Incoronazione di Poppea)
07. Cavalli – Dormi, cara Didone (La Didone)
08. Carissimi – Lamento di Maria Stuarda
09. Cesti – Dure noie (l’Argia)
10. Cavalli – Tremulo spirito (La Didone)
11. Monteverdi – Tu se’ morta (L’Orfeo)
Patrizia Ciofi : Soprano
Natalie Dessay : Soprano
Veronique Gens : Soprano
Joyce DiDonato : MezzoSoprano
Marie-Nicole Lemieux : Contralto
Philippe Jaroussky : Countretenor
Topi Lehtipuu : Tenor
Rolando Villazon : Tenor
Simon Wall : Tenor
Laurent Naouri : Bass-Baritone
Christopher Purves : Bass-Baritone
Le Concert d’ Astree
Emmanuelle Haim : direction, organ, harpsichord
A fine collection of Early Baroque music
Perusing the other reviews and the widely variable star ratings, it becomes immediately obvious that this disc is not for everyone. This is especially true for listeners seeking more music like Jaroussky’s Vivaldi albums, or Villazon’s album of Handel arias. As most other reviewers have stated, the singers, the players of Le Concert d’Astree, and the direction of Ms. Haim are superb. The music, however, may be a surprise for those who are not looking specifically for it. The selections were chosen by Haim to explore the Aria Lamento form of the very early Baroque (works on this disc date from 1607 to 1655). Listeners expecting arias that sound like Handel or Vivaldi will be disappointed, but if you adore Monteverdi and Cavalli, you will be thrilled. The musical choices will be particularly interesting to those listeners and budding scholars seeking to explore the birth of opera and the ‘aria’ form. The arias include works by Monteverdi (who for all intents and purposes invented the lament with his “Lamento d’Arianna” from the opera L’Arianna– included on this disc), Cavalli, Carissimi, Landi and Strozzi. All of these are chosen to explore dimensions of the Aria Lamento. In this case, the disc would probably best be described as the deeply personal journey of Emmanuelle Haim, who allows us to share in her joy of this early music. As a general description, the music is sad and thoughtful, quiet and introspective. There are a few moments where a few of the arias reach a feverish frenzy of grief and desperation, but this is rare. It is important that listeners follow the text as carefully as possible in order to fully appreciate the composers’ art and this music. I find it perfect music for dark rainy days.