Naxos
Mayr: David In The Cave Of Engedi / Hauk, Ostermann
$29.99
Details
- Composer
- MAYR, SIMON
- Artist
- Horak, Ichihara, Duffe, Hauk
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Apr 29, 2008
- Catalog #
- 8570366-67
- UPC
- 747313036677
About
S. MAYR David in the Cave of Engedi • Franz Hauk (hpd, cond); Merit Ostermann ( David ); Cornelia Horak ( Saul ); Ai Ichihara ( Michal ); Sibylla Duffe ( Jonathan ); Claudia Schneider ( Abner ); Simon Mayr Chorus & Ens • NAXOS 8.570366 (2 CDs: 94:13)
The Bavarian-born Johannes Simon Mayr (1763–1845) is probably most often remembered as the teacher and mentor of Donizetti. Until recently, his own works—more than 60 operas, some 600 liturgical compositions, as well as chamber music and symphonies—have been the realm of specialists. At 24 he abandoned studies in philosophy and law at the University of Ingolstadt to pursue a musical career in Italy. He studied first in Bergamo, then with Bertoni in Venice, where he began writing operas. The second he composed for La Fenice in 1796 was so successful that Mayr became much sought after in the world of Italian opera. The next year, his operas were produced in Vienna, and performances in other European capitals and in the U.S. followed. Despite lucrative offers from Paris, St. Petersburg, Lisbon, Dresden, and London, Mayr preferred to remain in Italy. He settled in Bergamo, establishing a music school, spearheading philanthropies to benefit musicians, and becoming an important champion of the Viennese style south of the Alps.
Mayr wrote his fascinating oratorio David in spelunca Engaddi (“David in the Cave of Engedi”) during his first creative blossoming. It was destined for one of the four Venetian ospedali , those institutions for orphaned or indigent girls where, earlier in the century, Vivaldi had been employed. Characteristically for a work commissioned by the Ospedale dei Mendicanti, its five solo roles, as well as the chorus, are all treble voices. The libretto by Foppa is based on scenes from Samuel I. King Saul is jealous of David, hero of Israel’s wars against the Philistines and tries to kill him. Saul’s son Jonathan and daughter Michal help David, who is able to stay one step ahead of Saul’s operatives. In the wilderness of Engedi, David comes upon Saul asleep in a cave. Though David has ample cause to kill Saul, he spares the king’s life. David’s display of loyalty reconciles Saul with his anointed successor as King of Israel. Though it’s difficult to say what is most striking about this masterful work, certainly character delineation in each principal role is unusually acute. Through the course of the oratorio, their characters develop with a psychological complexity rare in the genre, particularly in the late 18th century. The vocal writing is superb, florid, idiomatic, and deftly evokes the affects of the text.
Despite its economy of means, the choral writing, mostly in two parts, is extremely effective. And in a proto-Wagnerian sense, the orchestra almost becomes a character, its traditional role of accompaniment significantly expanded. Mayr is a deft and resourceful orchestrator. The brief Sinfonia that prefaces the first part of the oratorio is a little gem, worthy of the young Mozart. The Sinfonia that introduces part II, on the other hand, lasts more than five minutes, a virtual one-movement concerto grosso in Classical garb. Bassoons, oboes, horns and, above all, the harp (David’s instrument) interact with the orchestra in brilliant concertante style. Franz Hauk assembled an uncommonly strong group of soloists, each of whom meets Mayr’s vocal and dramatic demands with artistry and sophistication. Chorus and orchestra respond with ensemble cohesion to Hauk’s imaginative direction. The slow sound decay in the Assam Church of Maria de Victoria in Ingolstadt contributes to the near perfect acoustic ambiance with little blurring of detail. Informative notes are contributed by Iris Winkler, though listeners wishing to follow the text must download a 28-page libretto from the Naxos Web site.
Mayr has long been acknowledged as a key transitional figure between 18th- and 19th-century opera, and a potent influence on Rossini as well as Donizetti. But lately, signs of a fully-fledged revival keep cropping up. Opera Rara, the English company, has three complete Mayr operas in its catalog: Ginevra di Scozia (OR 23) and two productions of Medea in Corinto (OR 11 and OR 215). Cantatas (including one on the death of Beethoven) may be heard on Naxos 8.557958 and the oratorio La passione along with a Stabat mater setting are available on Guild 7251. In the instrumental realm, two of Mayr’s piano concertos may be sampled on Tactus 761301. The strong, nuanced performances that breathe life into David in spelunca Engaddi provide a strong argument for further exploration of Mayr’s imaginative and powerful music. They also suggest that a Mayr revival would be welcome and, perhaps, long overdue.
FANFARE: Patrick Rucker
Tracklist 46 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Part I: Sinfonia I 01:58
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part I: Sinfonia I
- Duration
- 01:58
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
2 Part I: Recitative: Ah non ultra mi Rex (Saul, Abner, Chorus) 00:41
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Ah non ultra mi Rex (Saul, Abner, Chorus)
- Duration
- 00:41
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Chorus, Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
3 Part I: Voces festivae sonent (Abner, Jonathas, Michol, Saul, David, Chorus) 02:39
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part I: Voces festivae sonent (Abner, Jonathas, Michol, Saul, David, Chorus)
- Duration
- 02:39
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Claudia Schneider, Sibylla Duffe, Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Chorus, Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
4 Part I: Recitative: Quidnam Saul restat (Saul, Abner) 00:33
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Quidnam Saul restat (Saul, Abner)
- Duration
- 00:33
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
5 Part I: Recitative: Regi imperare (Abner, Saul) 00:17
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Regi imperare (Abner, Saul)
- Duration
- 00:17
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Claudia Schneider, Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
6 Part I: Aria: Adversi fremunt venti (Abner) 03:04
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part I: Aria: Adversi fremunt venti (Abner)
- Duration
- 03:04
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
7 Part I: Recitative: Simuletur, ne vana (Saul, Michol, Jonathas) 00:39
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Simuletur, ne vana (Saul, Michol, Jonathas)
- Duration
- 00:39
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
8 Part I: Aria: En Pastor humilis (David) 02:54
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part I: Aria: En Pastor humilis (David)
- Duration
- 02:54
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
9 Part I: Recitative: Regis veni ad amplexus (Saul, David) 00:29
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Regis veni ad amplexus (Saul, David)
- Duration
- 00:29
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann, Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
10 Part I: Recitative: Siste: corona (Saul, David) 01:06
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Siste: corona (Saul, David)
- Duration
- 01:06
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
11 Part I: Aria: Vade superbe o fortis (Saul) 05:17
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part I: Aria: Vade superbe o fortis (Saul)
- Duration
- 05:17
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
12 Part I: Recitative: Quid loquutus est Rex? (David, Jonathas, Michol) 00:38
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Quid loquutus est Rex? (David, Jonathas, Michol)
- Duration
- 00:38
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann, Sibylla Duffe, Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
13 Part I: Recitative: Divisio amara (David, Michol) 00:43
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Divisio amara (David, Michol)
- Duration
- 00:43
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann, Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
14 Part I: Duet: Sponse mi … (Michol, David) 03:43
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part I: Duet: Sponse mi … (Michol, David)
- Duration
- 03:43
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
15 Part I: Recitative: Ah Jonathas (David, Jonathas) 00:18
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Ah Jonathas (David, Jonathas)
- Duration
- 00:18
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann, Sibylla Duffe
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
16 Part I: Recitative: Esto securus (Jonathas, David) 00:58
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Esto securus (Jonathas, David)
- Duration
- 00:58
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Sibylla Duffe, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
17 Part I: Aria: Ah cor meum (Jonathas) 03:41
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part I: Aria: Ah cor meum (Jonathas)
- Duration
- 03:41
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Sibylla Duffe
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
18 Part I: Recitative: Quales lacerant (Saul, David, Michol) 01:53
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Quales lacerant (Saul, David, Michol)
- Duration
- 01:53
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Merit Ostermann, Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
19 Part I: Recitative: Quod fulmen super me! (David, Michol, Saul) 01:30
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Quod fulmen super me! (David, Michol, Saul)
- Duration
- 01:30
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann, Ai Ichihara, Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
20 Part I: Aria: Tu spernis precantem (David) 03:08
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part I: Aria: Tu spernis precantem (David)
- Duration
- 03:08
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
21 Part I: Recitative: Saul somniaris (Saul, Jonathas, Michol, Abner, David) 00:46
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part I: Recitative: Saul somniaris (Saul, Jonathas, Michol, Abner, David)
- Duration
- 00:46
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Sibylla Duffe, Ai Ichihara, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
22 Part I: Ah genitor amate … (Michol, Jonathas, Saul, Abner, David) 02:18
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Part I: Ah genitor amate … (Michol, Jonathas, Saul, Abner, David)
- Duration
- 02:18
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe, Cornelia Horak, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
23 Part I: Umbra funesta (Saul, Jonathas, Michol, David) 02:26
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Part I: Umbra funesta (Saul, Jonathas, Michol, David)
- Duration
- 02:26
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Sibylla Duffe, Ai Ichihara, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
24 Part I: Vos furiae lacerate (Saul, Jonathas, Michol, Abner, David) 01:59
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Part I: Vos furiae lacerate (Saul, Jonathas, Michol, Abner, David)
- Duration
- 01:59
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Sibylla Duffe, Ai Ichihara, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
- Disc 2
-
1 Part II: Sinfonia II 05:16
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Part II: Sinfonia II
- Duration
- 05:16
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
2 Part II: Recitative: Abite, vos non audio (Saul, Michol, Abner) 00:35
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Abite, vos non audio (Saul, Michol, Abner)
- Duration
- 00:35
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Ai Ichihara, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
3 Part II: Recitative: Numen, coeleste numen (Michol) 00:50
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Numen, coeleste numen (Michol)
- Duration
- 00:50
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
4 Part II: Aria: Sponsum dona pater chare (Michol) 04:11
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Part II: Aria: Sponsum dona pater chare (Michol)
- Duration
- 04:11
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
5 Part II: Recitative: Illudam filiam (Saul, Abner, Michol) 00:17
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Illudam filiam (Saul, Abner, Michol)
- Duration
- 00:17
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Claudia Schneider, Ai Ichihara
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
6 Part II: Recitative: Filia dilecta (Saul, Michol, Abner) 02:19
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Filia dilecta (Saul, Michol, Abner)
- Duration
- 02:19
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Ai Ichihara, Claudia Schneider
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
7 Part II: Aria: Patri amanti amplexus dona (Saul) 04:49
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Part II: Aria: Patri amanti amplexus dona (Saul)
- Duration
- 04:49
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
8 Part II: Recitative: O felix ego! (Michol, Phalti) 00:32
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: O felix ego! (Michol, Phalti)
- Duration
- 00:32
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
9 Part II: Aria: Gaudete o sponsi amantes (Phalti) 03:21
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Part II: Aria: Gaudete o sponsi amantes (Phalti)
- Duration
- 03:21
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Sibylla Duffe
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
10 Part II: Recitative: Respiro tandem (Michol, Jonathas, David) 02:44
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Respiro tandem (Michol, Jonathas, David)
- Duration
- 02:44
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
11 Part II: Ah sponsa … curre (Michol, Jonathas, David) 04:33
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Part II: Ah sponsa … curre (Michol, Jonathas, David)
- Duration
- 04:33
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
12 Part II: Recitative: Eum solum linquis frater! (Michol, Jonathas) 00:26
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Eum solum linquis frater! (Michol, Jonathas)
- Duration
- 00:26
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
13 Part II: Aria: Ah quonam vado (David, Chorus) 02:10
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Part II: Aria: Ah quonam vado (David, Chorus)
- Duration
- 02:10
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Chorus, Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
14 Part II: Recitative: Quod incertos verto gressus! (Saul, David) 04:05
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Quod incertos verto gressus! (Saul, David)
- Duration
- 04:05
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
15 Part II: Aria: O rex amabilis (David) 02:03
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Part II: Aria: O rex amabilis (David)
- Duration
- 02:03
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
16 Part II: Aria: Ah quid restas (David, Chorus) 01:18
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Part II: Aria: Ah quid restas (David, Chorus)
- Duration
- 01:18
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Chorus, Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
17 Part II: Recitative: Sed quid tardo (David) 00:43
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Sed quid tardo (David)
- Duration
- 00:43
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
18 Part II: Arioso: Quid audio! (Saul) 01:34
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Part II: Arioso: Quid audio! (Saul)
- Duration
- 01:34
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
19 Part II: Sed quidnam cerno (Saul, David) 00:51
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Part II: Sed quidnam cerno (Saul, David)
- Duration
- 00:51
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Cornelia Horak, Merit Ostermann
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
20 Part II: Duet: Ah quaeso serenum (David, Saul) 03:34
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Part II: Duet: Ah quaeso serenum (David, Saul)
- Duration
- 03:34
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Merit Ostermann, Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
21 Part II: Recitative: Pater! - David (Michol, Jonathas, Saul) 00:36
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Part II: Recitative: Pater! - David (Michol, Jonathas, Saul)
- Duration
- 00:36
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Performer
- Ai Ichihara, Sibylla Duffe, Cornelia Horak
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk
-
22 Part II: Finale: O plena jubilo amica dies (Chorus) 03:56
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Part II: Finale: O plena jubilo amica dies (Chorus)
- Duration
- 03:56
- Composer
- Johann Simon Mayr
- Ensemble
- Simon Mayr Chorus, Simon Mayr Ensemble
- Conductor
- Franz Hauk