Vivaldi: Argippo

TAILLEFERRE: Hommage a Rameau / Suite burlesque / MADERNA: C

SPONTINI: Chamber Songs

Modest Mussorgsky wrote many works for the piano, most of which were published posthumously. Born in 1839, Mussorgsky began to compose at an early age, writing his first piece, Portenseigne Polka, in 1852, at the age of thirteen. Throughout his life, he composed works of various lengths for the instrument, many of unquestionable musical worth; his last compositions date from 1880, one year prior to his untimely death, at the age of 42. Mussorgsky’s best-known piano work is undoubtedly the monumental Pictures at an Exhibition (1874), made famous by Ravel’s orchestration, as well as Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s highly inventive orchestral version. It’s only in the original piano version, however, that Mussorgsky’s remarkable, fierce stylistic creativity is revealed. These complete works are performed by Italian pianist Giacomo Scinardo.

A perpetuator of Corelli’s style, but endowed with a more passionate nature and a more refined technique, Tartini fully embodies the musical taste of the 18th century, according to which “music ought to be expressive and not merely ornamented, insignificant and artificial”, thus truly earning the title of “master of the nations”. The works of the present release embrace an arc of almost thirty years, spanning from the 1730s (Sonata No. 45) to the 1760s (Sonata No. 40). All of them have initial themes that are easily remembered because of some peculiar traits and of the incisiveness of their motives, the apex of expressiveness being in the slow movement. The Allegros that follow, often passionately vigorous, are dominated by vivid colours and very interesting rhythmic and harmonic variety, and permeated by refined technique.

Francesca Russo Ermolli, M. Grazia Schiavo, Valentina Varriale, Maria Ercolano, G. De Vittorio, Gianpiero Ruggeri, and Francesco Morace star in this 2008 Reggio Emilia production of the Leo comic opera with Orchestra Barocca Cappella della Piet++� dei Turchini conducted by Antonio Florio.

Lesser known than Mozart and Verdi's Requiem, Donizetti's Messa di Requiem in D minor for the death of Vincenzo Bellini is infused with a deeply felt spirituality, that reveals the feelings of sincere admiration and friendship that he had towards the Sicilian composer, who died prematurely in 1835 in France, where the two were in tour with old and new operas rearranged for the local audience. Unfortunately Donizetti himself did not live long enough to hear his work performed, and the Messa was to be premiered only in 1870 in Bergamo, in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where Donizetti is now buried. This release was recorded in that same location and the whole cast received very positive reviews, especially tenor Juan Francisco Gatell that sung the famous Ingemisco aria with an excellent use of mezzevoci and coloratura.

Directed by Tiziano Mancini. Starring Compagnia Fabula Saltica, Paolo Battaglia, Susanna Branchini.

Claude Debussy is considered by today's critics as one of the artists who mark the turning point between two great periods in the history of music: the romantic heritage of the 19th century and the modernity of the 20th. At the beginning of his career Debussy was defined an impressionist, the musical equivalent of impressionism in figurative arts. This label fell upon him quite obviously, but because of his connections with Mallarm� and Maeterlinck it didn't' quite suit him, so much that later on he would rather be defined a symbolist artist. Generally speaking, the symbolist movement is what best describes Debussy's art. But the composer had created his first masterpiece, the cantata La Damoiselle �lue on a text written by Dante Gabriele Rossetti, the most eminent figure of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and his last works had been contemporary, from both the chronological and spiritual point of view, to the beginning of the abstract movement initiated by Mondrian. In Debussy's piano works we can find the signs of his evolution which allow us to understand the several phases of his poetics, not only as an artist but as a music conveyor, carried in parallel with all the artistic fields from the 19th to the 20th century. The extraordinary bravura of pianist Ilia Kim is the strong point of this release which features works that Debussy composed over several periods of his career, thus providing an accurate and complete insight of the composer's evolution.

GIOACHINO ROSSINI: Lorenzo Regazzo; Fedrico Lepre; Carmen Giannatasio; Maxim Mironov; Anna Rita Gemmabella; Nicola Marchesini; Teatro La Fenice di Venzia/Caludio Scimone; NTSC All Region; dolby Digital; DTS, Linear PCM 2.0; color; 16:9; Aprox. 174 mins. GIOACHINO ROSSINI: Maometto Secondo.

Starring Alfredo Kraus.

NABUCCO

Starring Fabio Armiliato, Juan Pons, Daniela Dessi.

Gioachino Rossini’s one act opera L’inganno Felice is categorized as a farsa, as it is a melodrama with buffo elements. The work, which features libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa, was an instant success after its premiere in 1812. This production, directed by Jochen Schonleber, was recorded at the Rossini in Wildbad Opera Festival in the summer of 2015. This particular performance received international acclaims, due to stellar directing by Schoenleber and the stars Lorenzo Regazzo and Silvia Della Benetta.

Picture Format: 16:9
Sound Format: PCM 2.0
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German
Region Code: 0 (Worldwide)
Running Time: 94 mins

Pathos, Passion & Patriotism (3 Operngesamtaufnahmen) - Cinzia Forte, Tineke Van Ingelgem, Saimir Pirgu, Nino Surguladze, Irina Lungu, Alexandra Zabala, Paola Gardina, Fiona McAndrew, Nora Sourouzian, Simone Alberghini, Federica Carnevale, Philippe Do und weitere. Verdi: La Traviata (Cinzia Forte, Tineke Van Ingelgem, Federica Carnevale, Saimir Pirgu, ORW Chorus & Orchestra, Paolo Arrivabeni / 2009; Laufzeit: 139 Min.) Bizet: Carmen (Nino Surguladze, Irina Lungu, Alexandra Zabala, Paola Gardina, Philippe Do, Fondazione Orchestra Regionale delle Marche, Carlo Montanaro / 2009; Laufzeit: 156 Min.) Daugherty: Jacki O (Fiona MC Andrew, Nora Sourouzian, Simone Alberghini, Paul Carey Jones, Teatro Comunale di Bologna Orchestra, Christopher Franklin / 2008; Laufzeit: 93 Min.)