Mozart: Lucio Silla / Fischer, Odinius, Nold, Danish Radio Sinfonietta

$25.99
Label
Dacapo Classical
Release Date
June 24, 2008
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      MOZART, W.A.
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Danish Radio Sinfonietta
    • PERFORMER
      Fischer, Elmark, Ars Nova, Nold, Odinius
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      June 24, 2008
    • UPC
      636943606926
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      8226069-71
    • LABEL
      Dacapo Classical
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      3
    • GENRE
      Opera / Operetta / Oratorio
    Works ⌄

    1. Sinfonia: Molto allegro - Andante - Molto allegro

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    2. Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Ah ciel, l'amico Cinna qui attendo invan (Cecilio, Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström, Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    3. Act I Scene 1: Aria: Vieni ov'amor t'invita (Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    4. Act I Scene 2: Accompanied Recitative: Dunque sperar poss'io di pascer gli occhi miei (Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    5. Act I Scene 2: Aria: Il tenero momento premio di tanto amore (Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    6. Act I Scene 3: Recitative: A te dell'amor mio, del mio riposo (Silla, Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    7. Act I Scene 3: Aria: Se lusinghiera speme pascer non sa gli amanti (Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    8. Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Signor, duolmi vederti ai rifiuti, agl'insulti Esposto ancor (Aufidio, Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Jakob Naeslund Madsen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    9. Act I Scene 5: Recitative: Sempre dovro vederti lagrimosa e dolente? (Silla, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    10. Act I Scene 5: Aria: Dalla sponda tenebrosa vieni o padre, o sposo amato (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    11. Act I Scene 6: Recitative: E tollerare io posso si temerari oltraggi? (Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    12. Act I Scene 6: Aria: Il desio di vendetta, e di morte (Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    13. Act I Scene 7: Accompanied Recitative: Morte, morte fatal della tua mano (Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    14. Act I Scene 8: Arioso: Fuor di queste urne dolenti (Chorus, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Ars Nova, Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    15. Act I Scene 8: Accompanied Recitative: Se l'empio Silla, o padre (Giunia, Cecilio) - Scene 9: Stelle! Io tremo! … (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold, Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    16. Act I Scene 9: Duet: D'Eliso in sen m'attendi ombra dell'idol mio (Giunia, Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold, Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    17. Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Tel' predissi, o Signor, che la superba (Aufidio, Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    18. Act II Scene 1: Aria: Guerrier, che d'un acciaro (Aufidio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Jakob Naeslund Madsen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    19. Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Ah non mai non credea (Silla, Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    20. Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Qual furor ti transporta? (Cinna, Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström, Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    21. Act II Scene 3: Aria: Quest' improvviso tremito, che in sen di più s'avanza (Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    22. Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Ah, si, s'affretti il colpo (Cinna, Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen, Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    23. Act II Scene 4: Aria: Se il labbro timido scoprir non osa (Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    24. Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Giunia s'appressa. Ah ch'ella puo soltanto (Cinna, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen, Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    25. Act II Scene 5: Aria: Ah se il crudel periglio (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    26. Act II Scene 6: Accompanied Recitative: Ah si, scuotasi omai (Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    27. Act II Scene 6: Aria: Nel fortunato istante, che' ei gia co' voti affretta (Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    28. Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Signor, ai cenni tuoi il Senato fia pronto (Aufidio, Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Jakob Naeslund Madsen, Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    29. Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Silla? L'odioso aspetto destami orror. Si fugga (Giunia, Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold, Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    30. Act II Scene 8: Aria: D'ogni pieta mi spoglio perfida donna audace (Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    31. Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Che intesi, eterni Dei? (Giunia, Cecilio) - Accompanied Recitative: Chi sa, che non sia questa (Cecilio, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold, Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    32. Act II Scene 9: Aria: Ah se morir mi chiama (Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    33. Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Oh Ciel? Si lagrimosa si dolente io t'incontro? (Celia, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Susanne Elmark, Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    34. Act II Scene 10: Aria: Quando sugl' arsi campi (Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    35. Act II Scene 11: Accompanied Recitative: In un istante oh come (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    36. Act II Scene 11: Aria: Parto, m'affretto. Ma nel partire il cor si spezza (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    37. Act II Scene 12: Se gloria il crin ti cinse (Chorus)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Ars Nova, Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    38. Act II Scene 12: Recitative: Padri Coscritti non ignorate l'antico odio funesto (Silla, Giunia, Aufidio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Simone Nold, Jakob Naeslund Madsen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    39. Act II Scene 13: Recitative: Sposa ah no, non temer (Cecilio, Silla, Giunia, Aufidio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström, Lothar Odinius, Simone Nold, Jakob Naeslund Madsen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    40. Act II Scene 14: Trio: Quell'orgoglioso sdegno oggi umiliar sapro (Silla, Cecilio, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Kristina Hammarström, Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    41. Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Ah si tu solo, amico (Cinna, Cecilio, Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström, Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    42. Act III Scene 1: Aria: Strider sento la procella (Celia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Susanne Elmark

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    43. Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Forse tu credi, amico che Celia giunga a raddolcir un core (Cecilio, Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström, Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    44. Act III Scene 2: Aria: De' più superbi il core (Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Henriette Bonde-Hansen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    45. Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Ah no, che'l fato estremo (Cecilio, Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström, Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    46. Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Tosto seguir tu dei, Cecilio, i passi miei (Aufidio, Giunia, Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Jakob Naeslund Madsen, Simone Nold, Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    47. Act III Scene 4: Aria: Pupille amata non lagrimate (Cecilio)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Kristina Hammarström

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    48. Act III Scene 5: Accompanied Recitative: Sposo … mia vita … Ah dove, dove vai? (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    49. Act III Scene 5: Aria: Fra i pensier più funesti di morte (Giunia)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    50. Act III Scene 8: Recitative: Roma, il Senato e 'l popolo m'ascolti (Silla, Giunia, Cecilio, Aufidio, Celia, Cinna)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Lothar Odinius, Simone Nold, Kristina Hammarström, Jakob Naeslund Madsen

      Conductor: Adam Fischer

    51. Act III Scene 8: Finale: Il gran Silla a Roma in seno (Chorus, Giunia, Cecilio, Cinna, Silla)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ensemble: Ars Nova, Danish Radio Sinfonietta

      Performer: Simone Nold, Kristina Hammarström, Lothar Odinius

      Conductor: Adam Fischer


Booklet includes libretto in English.

I truly can't imagine why anyone would want to own more than one good recording of this opera, and so if you have none, this one will make you very happy. If you have the Harnoncourt, you'll need this to get a real sense of what the opera is about, and if you have the Hager, scene by scene you should be pleased. But Fischer almost turns this work into true drama, and his singers are marvelous. The sound throughout is bright and forward; the booklet contains interesting essays and a four-language libretto.

The approximately three-hour-long (depending on cuts, pacing, etc.) Lucio Silla was composed by Mozart for Milan in 1772, as the lad was nearing his 16th birthday. A true opera seria, with dozens of da capo arias and a plot that ties itself in knots until the eponymous hero, the despotic Silla (138-78 B.C.), suddenly decides to stop being a tyrant, has a change of heart and becomes the very model of the Enlightenment, it offers the listener no context for soul-searching, almost no action, and no character growth. However, like the best opera serie, we get many splendid frozen-in-time moments in which individual characters can stop, face us, and articulate in music and text an array of human emotion: warmth, hopelessness, fury, elation, fear, tenacity. And for the most part, they do so with great bravura.

The opera was a great success in Milan, running 20 performances. The plot tells of Silla (tenor) who lusts after Giunia (soprano), whose husband Cecilio (mezzo) he has banished and declared dead. Cecilio, back in Rome but hiding, eventually tries to kill Silla but is stopped and sentenced to death. Then, for no reason made clear to anyone, Silla denounces his own dictatorship and offers clemency to all, including Cecilio's friend Cinna (soprano) and his own sister, Celia (soprano), who loves and is loved by Cinna. A character named Aufidio (tenor), shows up occasionally; he is Silla's bloodthirsty friend, always interested in stirring up trouble.

There are several performances of this opera available, and this new one turns out to be the best all around despite some remarkable individual performances elsewhere. The cast here is made up of not-very-well-known Scandinavians, and they are all worthy. Great credit must go to conductor Adam Fischer, who leads the superb period-instrument Danish Radio Sinfonietta in a performance that unites youthful refinement with fiery delivery, textural and textual lucidity, and just the right mood and tempo for each character's situation. He rightly turns each aria into an event while having trimmed the recitative to a minimum; compared with Leopold Hager's reading on Philips, with every note and word intact, we get a performance that is 32 minutes shorter and light years more exciting. (Harnoncourt on Teldec cuts the role of Aufidio entirely as well as a couple of important arias, and his tempos and dynamics define manic depression.)

The emotional centerpiece of the opera, if there is one, is Giunia, a high coloratura who has four lengthy arias to sing, requiring great virtuosity as well as a sense of longing and moral outrage. Her opening aria changes mood effectively as it progresses, and a scene near the first act's close in which she and the chorus weep for her father (who was killed by Silla) is truly moving. Simone Nold does a fine job with her bright tone and impeccable diction; she's well up to the challenge made by Arleen Auger (Hager) and Edita Gruberova (Harnoncourt).

Lothar Odinius is the best Silla on disc. The under-composed role (only two arias instead of four due to a last-minute cast change in Milan a week before the premiere) can be effective, and Odinius not only has the notes and coloratura, but he's capable of sounding truly nasty and sings Peter Schreier (on both other recordings cited) under the table. Cecilio is represented with Harnoncourt by Cecilia Bartoli and with Hager by Julia Varady; the latter has great authority but struggles with pitch while the former is at her most expressive, noble, varied, and outraged. Kristina Hammarström cannot match Bartoli but she is nonetheless excellent, the tone perhaps not quite dark enough at times but the intelligence and accuracy outstanding. Henriette Bonde-Hansen sings with dignity as Cinna; Susanne Elmark's Celia is sincere, loving, and shallow, much like Dawn Upshaw's for Harnoncourt. Jacob Naeslund Masden's Aufidio has a nice snarl to it.

I truly can't imagine why anyone would want to own more than one good recording of this opera, and so if you have none, this one will make you very happy. If you have the Harnoncourt, you'll need this to get a real sense of what the opera is about, and if you have the Hager, scene by scene you should be pleased. But Fischer almost turns this work into true drama, and his singers are marvelous. The sound throughout is bright and forward; the booklet contains interesting essays and a four-language libretto.

--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com