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Avie Records

Monteverdi: L'Orfeo / Parrott, Taverner Consort

$29.99

Details

Composer
MONTEVERDI, CLAUDIO
Artist
Taverner Consort & Players, Andrew Parrott
Format
CD
Label
Avie Records
Released
Apr 01, 2013
Catalog #
AV2278
UPC
822252227826

About

This brand-new recording of Orfeo lacks thrills and grand vocal displays, and the results are beautiful indeed. Purposely eschewing what opera turned into within a half-century of this, the purported first entirely extant opera, Andrew Parrott, with 40 years of experience and scholarship under his belt, has opted to present a “favola in musica” rather than the later notation, a “dramma per musica”. The distinction is one of size, scope, and focus.

The performances that were given of Orfeo at the court of Mantua were neither fully-staged nor opulent; there is mention of a “curtain” but the room itself was salon-sized and the purpose of the event was to appreciate the combination of poetry and music. There were no singing stars; the purpose of the show was not virtuosity. It was an experiment for the heightening of the text by music.

With that in mind, this exquisite, delicate reading is a glorious alternative to, say, the Philip Pickett, René Jacobs, or Nikolaus Harnoncourt performances (let alone the heartbreaking Emmanuel Haim reading on Virgin), which are interested in Orfeo as a piece of theater, designed to “impress” and possibly stun. Parrott’s show places equal emphasis on the music and text—the words are delivered flawlessly, with strength where needed, but utterly devoid of melodrama. The drama is in the sadness of both words and music. It’s almost like Mozart in that respect: his operas rarely need to be “interpreted”; if the singers and players follow the music and text scrupulously, an effect will be made. It may not engender shock and awe, but the tale will be told, without over-emphasizing or exaggeration.

And that is what we get here. The first CD begins with the sound of a few people chattering, and the Gonzaga fanfare is first heard from a distance. Then it comes a bit closer—in a different key (this is not explained), which is a bit jarring but certainly makes us pay attention. The first voice we hear—La Musica—is that of countertenor David Hurley, perhaps the purest male adult voice I’ve ever heard (including Phillip Jaroussky’s). It is light as a feather, and music itself.

Charles Daniels is a wonderful Orfeo—sweet and gentle—and he handles the amazingly difficult “Possente spirto” and “Orfeo son io” in the third act beautifully, with every note clear and focused, but without any grandstanding. His legato (this entire performance is all about the unstoppability of music as exhibited by superb legato playing and singing from everyone) is a thing of wonder. Caronte, in the person of Curtis Streetman, also singing smoothly (and with a sensational trillo on the word “canto”), brings out some forte, impassioned pleading from Daniels’ Orefo—all the more effective since all else has been so understated.

Emily van Evera’s Messaggiera is a problem—her voice is too bright and she is too matter-of-fact for someone delivering such terrible news—but her Prosperina is so lovely that Christopher Purves’ Plutone must give in to her request. Faye Newton’s Eurydice is particularly effective in her final farewell, with its weird-and-weirder chromatic lines. Some might argue that the Infernal Spirits are not menacing enough; I would direct their attention to the accompaniment of the three trombones and two bass trombones, which add enough darkness to hide the sun. The only other concession to this being a staged work is the gradual disappearance of Apollo (finely sung by Guy Melc) and Orfeo near the opera’s close, since there is in fact a stage direction in the score that states that they “ascend”.

There are 29 instrumentalists, 14 of whom are string players; several of the singers play double roles. The harmonies in the choruses are spotless, with the men’s voices impeccably matched; this is some of the smoothest singing I’ve ever heard. Pitch is A=440 (most other recordings use A=465) which adds to the ease of production and mellow, sad telling of this well-known tale. The sound is pristine.

This may not be an only choice for a version of Orfeo; it’s an alternative, possibly thoroughly accurate reading of the favola. But its poetic approach is an ideal companion to the more aggressive, later 17th and early 18th century “operatic” readings mentioned above, with Haim’s probably first.

– Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 43 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Toccata 02:16
    Track
    1
    Title
    Toccata
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  3. 2 Prologo: Dal mio Permesso amato a voi ne vengo (La Musica) 06:12
    Track
    2
    Title
    Prologo: Dal mio Permesso amato a voi ne vengo (La Musica)
    Duration
    06:12
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  4. 3 Act I: In questo lieto e fortunato giorno (Shepherd) 01:32
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: In questo lieto e fortunato giorno (Shepherd)
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Simon Wall
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  5. 4 Act I: Vieni Imeneo, deh vieni, e la tua face ardente (Chorus) 00:48
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: Vieni Imeneo, deh vieni, e la tua face ardente (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley, Charles Daniels, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  6. 5 Act I: Muse, onor di Parnaso, amor del Cielo (Ninfa) 00:53
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Muse, onor di Parnaso, amor del Cielo (Ninfa)
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Anna Dennis
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  7. 6 Act I: Lasciate i monti (Chorus) 00:54
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: Lasciate i monti (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley, Charles Daniels, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  8. 7 Act I: Ritornello: Ma tu, gentil cantor, s'a tuoi lamenti (Shepherd) 00:43
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I: Ritornello: Ma tu, gentil cantor, s'a tuoi lamenti (Shepherd)
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Rodrigo del Pozo
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  9. 8 Act I: Rosa del ciel, vita del mondo e degna (Orfeo) 01:57
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I: Rosa del ciel, vita del mondo e degna (Orfeo)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  10. 9 Act I: Io non diro qual sia nel tuo gioir (Euridice) 00:45
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I: Io non diro qual sia nel tuo gioir (Euridice)
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Faye Newton
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  11. 10 Act I: Lasciate i monti, lasciate i fonti (Chorus) 00:55
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I: Lasciate i monti, lasciate i fonti (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley, Charles Daniels, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  12. 11 Act I: Vieni Imeneo, deh vieni, e la tua face ardente (Chorus) 00:47
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I: Vieni Imeneo, deh vieni, e la tua face ardente (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley, Charles Daniels, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  13. 12 Act I: Ma s'il nostro gioir dal ciel deriva (Shepherd) 00:46
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act I: Ma s'il nostro gioir dal ciel deriva (Shepherd)
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Gareth Morrell
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  14. 13 Act I: Alcun non sia che disperato in preda (Shepherds, Nymph) 03:59
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act I: Alcun non sia che disperato in preda (Shepherds, Nymph)
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Robert MacDonald
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  15. 14 Act II: Ecco pur ch'a voi ritorno (Orfeo, Shepherds, Chorus) 03:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II: Ecco pur ch'a voi ritorno (Orfeo, Shepherds, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels, Gareth Morrell, Simon Wall, David Hurley, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  16. 15 Act II: Vi ricorda, o boschi amorosi (Orfeo) 02:32
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II: Vi ricorda, o boschi amorosi (Orfeo)
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  17. 16 Act II: Mira, deh mira Orfeo, che d'ogni intorno (Shepherd) 00:28
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II: Mira, deh mira Orfeo, che d'ogni intorno (Shepherd)
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Simon Wall
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  18. 17 Act II: Ahi, caso acerbo! (Messenger, Shepherds, Orfeo) 02:50
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II: Ahi, caso acerbo! (Messenger, Shepherds, Orfeo)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Emily Van Evera, Simon Wall, Rodrigo del Pozo, Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  19. 18 Act II: In un fiorito prato con l'altre sue compagne (Messenger, Shepherds) 03:25
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act II: In un fiorito prato con l'altre sue compagne (Messenger, Shepherds)
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Emily Van Evera, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  20. 19 Act II: Tu se' morta, mia vita, ed io respiro? (Orfeo) 02:17
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act II: Tu se' morta, mia vita, ed io respiro? (Orfeo)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  21. 20 Act II: Ahi caso acerbo, ahi Fat'empio e crudele (Chorus) 01:16
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act II: Ahi caso acerbo, ahi Fat'empio e crudele (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley, Charles Daniels, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  22. 21 Act II: Ma io, ch'in questa lingua (Messenger) 01:21
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act II: Ma io, ch'in questa lingua (Messenger)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Emily Van Evera
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  23. 22 Act II: Chi ne consola, ahi lassi? (Shepherds, Nymph) 07:09
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II: Chi ne consola, ahi lassi? (Shepherds, Nymph)
    Duration
    07:09
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Robert MacDonald
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  24. Disc 2
  25. 1 Act III: Sinfonia 01:28
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III: Sinfonia
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  26. 2 Act III: Scorto da te, mio nume (Orfeo) 01:16
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III: Scorto da te, mio nume (Orfeo)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  27. 3 Act III: Ecco l'atra palude, ecco il nochiero (Speranza) 02:46
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III: Ecco l'atra palude, ecco il nochiero (Speranza)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Clare Wilkinson
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  28. 4 Act III: Dove, ah dove te'n vai (Orfeo) 00:39
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III: Dove, ah dove te'n vai (Orfeo)
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  29. 5 Act III: O tu, ch'innanzi mort'a queste rive (Caronte) 01:38
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III: O tu, ch'innanzi mort'a queste rive (Caronte)
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Curtis Streetman
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  30. 6 Act III: Possente spirto, e formidabil nume (Orfeo) 09:01
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III: Possente spirto, e formidabil nume (Orfeo)
    Duration
    09:01
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  31. 7 Act III: Ben mi lusinga alquanto dilettandomi il core (Caronte) 00:45
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III: Ben mi lusinga alquanto dilettandomi il core (Caronte)
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Curtis Streetman
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  32. 8 Act III: Ahi, sventurato amante (Orfeo) 01:09
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Ahi, sventurato amante (Orfeo)
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  33. 9 Act III: Ei dorme, e la mia cetra (Orfeo) 02:32
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III: Ei dorme, e la mia cetra (Orfeo)
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  34. 10 Act III: Nulla impressa per uom si tenta invano (Chorus of the Spirits of Hell) 03:38
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III: Nulla impressa per uom si tenta invano (Chorus of the Spirits of Hell)
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Gareth Morrell, Richard Latham, James Arthur, Curtis Streetman, Robert MacDonald
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  35. 11 Act IV: Signor, quell'infelice (Proserpina) 02:29
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act IV: Signor, quell'infelice (Proserpina)
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Emily Van Evera
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  36. 12 Act IV: Benche severo ed immutabil fato (Plutone, Spirits of Hell) 03:02
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act IV: Benche severo ed immutabil fato (Plutone, Spirits of Hell)
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Christopher Purves, Gareth Morrell, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  37. 13 Act IV: Quali gratie ti rendo hor che si nobil dono (Proserpina, Plutone, Chorus of the Spirits of Hell) 02:00
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act IV: Quali gratie ti rendo hor che si nobil dono (Proserpina, Plutone, Chorus of the Spirits of Hell)
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Emily Van Evera, Christopher Purves, Gareth Morrell, Richard Latham, James Arthur, Curtis Streetman, Robert MacDonald
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  38. 14 Act IV: Ecco il gentil cantore che sua sposa conduce al ciel superno (Spirit of Hell, Orfeo) 02:36
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act IV: Ecco il gentil cantore che sua sposa conduce al ciel superno (Spirit of Hell, Orfeo)
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Richard Latham, Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  39. 15 Act IV: O dolcissimi lumi io pur vi veggio, io pur (Orfeo, Spirits of Hell, Euridice) 02:35
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act IV: O dolcissimi lumi io pur vi veggio, io pur (Orfeo, Spirits of Hell, Euridice)
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels, Robert MacDonald, Faye Newton, Richard Latham
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  40. 16 Act IV: E la virtute un raggio (Chorus of the Spirits of Hell) 03:42
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act IV: E la virtute un raggio (Chorus of the Spirits of Hell)
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Gareth Morrell, Richard Latham, James Arthur, Curtis Streetman, Robert MacDonald
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  41. 17 Act V: Questi campi di Tracia (Orfeo, Echo) 07:34
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act V: Questi campi di Tracia (Orfeo, Echo)
    Duration
    07:34
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Charles Daniels, Simon Wall
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  42. 18 Act V: Perch'a lo sdegno e al dolor in preda (Apollo, Orfeo) 04:09
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act V: Perch'a lo sdegno e al dolor in preda (Apollo, Orfeo)
    Duration
    04:09
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Guy Pelc, Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  43. 19 Act V: Saliam cantand'al Cielo (Apollo, Orfeo) 01:11
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act V: Saliam cantand'al Cielo (Apollo, Orfeo)
    Duration
    01:11
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    Guy Pelc, Charles Daniels
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  44. 20 Act V: Vanne Orfeo, felice appieno (Chorus) 00:59
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act V: Vanne Orfeo, felice appieno (Chorus)
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Performer
    David Hurley, Charles Daniels, Faye Newton, Emily Van Evera, Clare Wilkinson, Curtis Streetman, Christopher Purves, Guy Pelc, Anna Dennis, Rodrigo del Pozo, Simon Wall, Gareth Morrell, Robert MacDonald, Richard Latham, James Arthur
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott
  45. 21 Act V: Moresca 00:58
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act V: Moresca
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Claudio Monteverdi
    Ensemble
    Taverner Players
    Conductor
    Andrew Parrott