Composer: Domenico Auletta, Johann Adolph Hasse, Giuseppe Porsile, Domenico Natale Sarro, Alessandro Scarlatti
Performer: Nicolò Balducci, Anna Paradiso, Dolci Affetti, Dan Laurin, Dohyo Sol
Conductor: Dan Laurin
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Catalogue: BIS2585
Release: 2022
Size: 1.51 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Hasse: Ciro riconosciuto
01. Non piangete, amati rai
Porsile: Il ritorno di Ulisse alla patria
02. Sventurato chi piagato
03. Tu sei crudel così
04. Apri Cirene i lumi
05. Fiero sdegno dell’alma guerriero
06. Quel volto vezzoso
07. Mi preparo a trionfar
Scarlatti: Quella pace gradita
08. I. Sinfonia
09. II. Quella pace gradita
10. III. Crudel tiranno amore
11. IV. O voi selve beate
12. V. Care selve, soggiorni di quiete
13. VI. Lungi da me, tiranno amore
14. VII. Teco, o mesta tortorella
Auletta: Harpsichord Concerto in C major
15. I. Allegro
16. II. Larghetto
17. III. Allegro
Sarro: Dimmi bel neo che fai
18. Dimmi bel neo che fai
19. I. Dimmi bel neo che fai
20. II. Così amor mi dasse in sorte
21. III. No m’inganna il pensiero
22. IV. Che vaneggia quest
23. V. Si neo chiamarti deggio
24. VI. Si tu puoi darli ò cara
25. trad.: Tarantella del Gargano
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Naples’ fame as a musical centre attracted travellers, composers, instrumentalists and virtuoso singers alike. Among the aspiring musicians, the most highly-trained and sought-after were the castrati, promising boys aged between 8 and 12 who were subjected to an operation intended to preserve the exceptionally pure timbre of their treble voice. Forever virginal beings whose superhuman voices mesmerized their listeners they were nicknamed “angiolilli” (“little angels”), and sang in the most important churches and theatres of “Castrapolis”, a term coined to describe the southern capital and its high concentration of castrato sopranos.
Nicolò Balducci is one of the rapidly rising countertenors and sopranists of his generation. Together with the ensemble Dolci Affetti, directed by the renowned recorder player Dan Laurin, he here performs arias and cantatas by Hasse, Porsile, Sarro and Alessandro Scarlatti. All four composers were associated with Naples and knew how to highlight these extraordinary voices, at a time when opera and the chamber cantata represented the most fashionable musical genres both in Italy and abroad. The program is completed with a Concerto for Harpsichord by Domenico Auletta, with Anna Paradiso performing the solo part.