The opera was first performed at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on 4 November 1778, the name day of king Charles III of Spain, the former ruler of the Kingdom of Naples whose birthday and name day were still celebrated with operatic productions under the rule of his son Ferdinand. It is unquesti-onably one of the finest settings of this Metastasian libretto ever produced. Contemporary music criticism praised in particular the composer's setting of the aria "Se cerca, se dice" as sung by Luigi Marchesi, a close friend and professional collaborator of the composer.
Clistene, king of Sicyon – tenor Aristea, his daughter, beloved of Megacle – soprano Megacle, in love with Aristea, friend of Licida soprano Licida, believed to be the son of the king of Crete, in love with Aristea, friend of Megacle – mezzo-soprano Argene, a Cretan lady dressed as a shepherdess under the name of Licori, in love with Licida – soprano Aminta, tutor of Licida – tenor Alcandro, confidant of Clistene – soprano (breeches role)
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) Symphonie Le Matin, Cantate Ariane à Naxos for soprano & orchestra Jiří Antonín Benda (1722–1795) Ariane à Naxos (1775) melodrama on text by Johann Christian Brandes
Louise Moaty – Adriana Benjamin Lazar – Theseus Alexandra Rübner – Oreada Louise Moaty & Benjamin Lazar – stage directors Collegium 1704, Václav Luks – conductor
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759) Rinaldo HWV 7 opera seria in 3 acts on libretto by Giacomo Rossi after Aron Hill story after Liberated Jerusalem by Torquato Tasso
Jean-Féry Rebel – Les Élémens Jan Dismas Zelenka – In exitu Israel ZWV 83 Georg Friedrich Händel – Cantate Tra le Fiamme HWV 170 Georg Friedrich Händel – Cantata Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233
Raffaella Milanesi – soprano
Collegium Vocale 1704, Collegium 1704 Václav Luks – conductor
Programme:
Jean-Féry Rebel (1666–1747)
Les Élémens Simphonie nouvelle pour ballet, 1737
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679–1745) In exitu Israel ZWV 83 (1725)
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759) Cantate Tra le Fiamme (1708), HWV 170
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Georg Friedrich Händel Cantata Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233 per l'Anniversario della liberazione di Roma dal terremoto del 1702–3 (1708, Roma)
Collegium Vocale 1704
4 S, 3 A, 3 T, 3 B (13 pers.)
Collegium 1704 strings: 5-4-3-2-1 2 ob, 2 fl, 1 fg, cembalo, theorbe, viola da gamba (23 pers.)
The Mass in B minor BWV 232 (Missa solemnis toni Si minoris) is a musical setting of the complete Latin Mass which Bach composed for the Dresden court between years 1724–1749. The Mass was most probably never performed in totality during Bach's lifetime, and the work largely disappeared in the 18th century. Several performances in the early 19th century, however, sparked a revival both of the piece and the larger rediscovery of Bach's music. Today, it is widely hailed as a monumental work of the late Baroque and is frequently performed.