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Durante: Neapolitan Christmas / Willens, Kölner Akademie
CPO

Durante: Neapolitan Christmas / Willens, Kölner Akademie

$18.99

Details

Composer
DURANTE, FRANCESCO
Artist
Mameli, Eittinger, Post, Macleod, Koelner Akademie, Willens
Format
CD
Label
CPO
Released
Nov 15, 2011
Catalog #
777571-2
UPC
761203757121

About

REVIEW:



The creation of music for this significant annual season has occupied composers of the 17th and 18th centuries in numerous ways involving not only liturgical works but also newly written cantatas or pastorales that focus upon both the nativity itself and the importance of the birth of Christ for humanity. In short, it is an inspirational time of year that seems tailor-made to write music of all types and varieties.

Neapolitan music of the early galant heralds the emerging Classical style, always lyrical, homophonic, and graced with contrasts that allow for emotions within the music to emerge. It is equally significant that Naples not only housed famous teachers in the conservatories, but that these taught and inspired men such as Cimarosa, Paisiello, and others, without whom Italian opera would be quite bereft. One such was Francesco Durante, who although he did not compose opera nonetheless left his mark on a huge number of people ranging from his protégé Giovanni Pergolesi to the aforementioned. It is good to see that his music, mostly written for the church, is undergoing somewhat of a rediscovery, for it represents a vital historical link in the development of Classical-period music. Durante began his career at the San Onofrio Conservatory in 1710 at the age of 26, and within 20 years was hailed as the foremost maestro in the city, although he was now at the Poveri di Gesù Cristo Conservatory. His third and final post was maestro at the Santa Maria Conservatory in 1742, meaning that he was active virtually everywhere in the city.

This disc presents one of his Christmas motets, Ad presepe venite, to which is added two Marian Magnificats, a litany, and a Mass that Durante labeled for some reason “Pastorale.” Of these, the motet is clearly the most advanced work, with oboes and horns that add a particular brightness to the sound in the first movement. This is a lilting pastoral Siciliano in 12/8 time, in which the soloists act as a chorus of the whole. The harmony is mainly triadic, but one can feel the bucolic nature of the work. The first aria, “Candida lumina,” has a soaring melodic line that contains extensive coloratura, with some nice register leaps. The central section seems a bit perfunctory, but that just outlines the faster portions all the better. The work concludes with a duet for alto and tenor, a solemn-paced pastoral movement that would not be out of place in Vivaldi, especially with some nicely pungent suspension. The two Magnificats are more conservative works, although the second, in C Minor, is a short, sweet chorus with only an organ continuo to back it up. This is clearly useful, meant for churches with little resources. The Mass has a wonderful chromatic line in the violin, and Durante makes good use of pedal points to anchor the sometimes angular choral writing.

The performance by Michael Willens and his Cologne Academy is excellent. He keeps the tempos moving along nicely, and the instruments phrase things quite sensitively. Roberta Mameli has a bright, clear voice, handling the various displays with little effort, such as the melismas of the “Candida Lumine” aria in the motet. In this same work, Ursula Eittinger blends well with tenor Andreas Post, although she often seems closer to an alto than a mezzo. Her voice is nicely resonant and has more depth than one might expect. Stephan McLeod also has some wonderful declamatory lines in the B♭-Major Magnificat. In short, this is a recording that not only continues Willens as one of the premier Baroque/Classical interpreters, it also offers a crucial and well-performed insight into a composer who is only now beginning to be recognized for his impact on the development of the Classical style. My only moment of surprise is that only the motet actually incorporates the oboes and horns; surely a selection of Durante’s music can be found to make more use of these instruments. Still, this comes highly recommended.

-- Fanfare

Tracklist 18 tracks

  1. 1 Ad presepe (Chorus) 07:26
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ad presepe (Chorus)
    Duration
    07:26
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  2. 2 Recitativo: Alto de coeli (Soprano) 00:27
    Track
    2
    Title
    Recitativo: Alto de coeli (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:27
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  3. 3 Aria: Candida lumina (Soprano) 07:15
    Track
    3
    Title
    Aria: Candida lumina (Soprano)
    Duration
    07:15
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  4. 4 Recitativo: In hac dicta beata (Alto, Tenor) 00:39
    Track
    4
    Title
    Recitativo: In hac dicta beata (Alto, Tenor)
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  5. 5 Duet: Ardente luce amara (Alto, Tenor) 08:36
    Track
    5
    Title
    Duet: Ardente luce amara (Alto, Tenor)
    Duration
    08:36
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  6. 6 Magnificat a 4 in B-Flat Major (arr. M.A. Willens) 10:07
    Track
    6
    Title
    Magnificat a 4 in B-Flat Major (arr. M.A. Willens)
    Duration
    10:07
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  7. 7 Kyrie 04:49
    Track
    7
    Title
    Kyrie
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  8. 8 Virgo prudentissima 03:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    Virgo prudentissima
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  9. 9 Regina angelorum 01:19
    Track
    9
    Title
    Regina angelorum
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  10. 10 Agnus Dei 01:41
    Track
    10
    Title
    Agnus Dei
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  11. 11 Magnificat a 4 in C Minor (arr. N. Heine) 04:59
    Track
    11
    Title
    Magnificat a 4 in C Minor (arr. N. Heine)
    Duration
    04:59
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  12. 12 Kyrie 04:04
    Track
    12
    Title
    Kyrie
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  13. 13 Gloria 03:39
    Track
    13
    Title
    Gloria
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  14. 14 Gratias (Soprano) 03:14
    Track
    14
    Title
    Gratias (Soprano)
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  15. 15 Domine Deus (Soprano, Alto) 02:36
    Track
    15
    Title
    Domine Deus (Soprano, Alto)
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  16. 16 Qui tollis 03:48
    Track
    16
    Title
    Qui tollis
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  17. 17 Quoniam (Bass) 02:38
    Track
    17
    Title
    Quoniam (Bass)
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens
  18. 18 Cum sancto 02:17
    Track
    18
    Title
    Cum sancto
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Francesco Durante
    Performer
    Roberta Mameli, Ursula Eittinger, Andreas Post, Stephan MacLeod
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Kölner Akademie
    Conductor
    Michael Alexander Willens