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Simon Mayr: L'armonia, Etc / Hauk, Or, Piriu, Et Al
Naxos

Simon Mayr: L'armonia, Etc / Hauk, Or, Piriu, Et Al

$19.99

Details

Composer
MAYR
Artist
Hauk, Ingolstadt Co
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Dec 12, 2006
Catalog #
8557958
UPC
747313295821

About

German-born Simon Mayr received his musical training in Italy (he's also properly known by his Italian name Giovanni Simone Mayr), and that's where he spent his career writing both operas and sacred vocal music at the cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo. One thing's clear about this composer/teacher/choir master: he knew his Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, and if you like their sacred and theatrical music, you'll enjoy this program featuring two delightful cantatas. L'Armonia, an extended (45-minute) near-opera with three scenes, characters, choruses, virtuoso arias, and well-developed recitatives, was presented on the occasion of a state visit to Bergamo in 1825 by the Emperor Franz I and his entourage. It contains all the conventions of the day to satisfy and impress an imperial audience--the references to classical poets and mythology, symbolic associations to the emperor's benevolence and wisdom (not to mention a surprise tribute to the Empress), grand choruses and florid arias glorifying the defense of the nation's and its people's ideals in battle, and textual quotations espousing the goals of harmony and peace.

But rather than being tedious and predictable, Mayr treats us to some very appealing, expertly crafted music that handily combines some dramatic and very demanding Mozartian opera-style arias--beautifully sung by all three soloists--with choruses right out of the church works of Mozart and Haydn. The pacing is swift and conductor Franz Hauk keeps his forces tightly together most of the time--some ragged instrumental ensemble and choral intonation slips are only occasionally noticeable. Mayr also cleverly uses a harp at opportune moments to add color and for symbolic reference to the Bards, which are among the cantata's "characters".

And speaking of references, if you know Beethoven, you'll have fun picking out Mayr's nifty insertions of excerpts from some of the master's works in the Cantata for the Death of Beethoven. This 15-minute piece was basically cobbled together from original material and from existing works, and again, it's a very satisfying listen marked by strong vocal writing for the soloists and stylish orchestration. Once more I do have to mention the solo singers--soprano Talia Or, tenor Altin Piriù, and bass Nikolay Borchev--all first class and very solid in some very challenging music. They have a lot to do here, and they really carry the show. A pleasant surprise!

--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 18 tracks

  1. 1 Scene I: Chorus: Bell'Armonia risvegliati (Fair Harmony awake) 04:18
    Track
    1
    Title
    Scene I: Chorus: Bell'Armonia risvegliati (Fair Harmony awake)
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  2. 2 Scene I: Recitative: Ah si: rimira, avventurata gente (Ah yes, see, fortunate people) (Bass) 02:50
    Track
    2
    Title
    Scene I: Recitative: Ah si: rimira, avventurata gente (Ah yes, see, fortunate people) (Bass)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev
    Ensemble
    Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  3. 3 Scene I: Aria: Qual diletto inonda il petto (What delight fills our hearts) (Bass) 02:28
    Track
    3
    Title
    Scene I: Aria: Qual diletto inonda il petto (What delight fills our hearts) (Bass)
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev
    Ensemble
    Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  4. 4 Scene I: Aria: La Patria gia sente il Nume presente (Our country feels the presence of God) (Bass, Chorus) 02:13
    Track
    4
    Title
    Scene I: Aria: La Patria gia sente il Nume presente (Our country feels the presence of God) (Bass, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  5. 5 Scene I: Chorus: Qual'indegno! il seren di nostra pace (What an outrage! Does someone dare disturb our serenity?) 00:43
    Track
    5
    Title
    Scene I: Chorus: Qual'indegno! il seren di nostra pace (What an outrage! Does someone dare disturb our serenity?)
    Duration
    00:43
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  6. 6 Scene II: Recitative: Popoli, amici!... (People, friends!...) (Bass, Chorus) 01:01
    Track
    6
    Title
    Scene II: Recitative: Popoli, amici!... (People, friends!...) (Bass, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:01
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  7. 7 Scene II: Aria: A combatter ci chiama la tromba: de' timballi gia il suono rimbomba (The trumpet calls us to battle) (Tenor, Chorus) 06:57
    Track
    7
    Title
    Scene II: Aria: A combatter ci chiama la tromba: de' timballi gia il suono rimbomba (The trumpet calls us to battle) (Tenor, Chorus)
    Duration
    06:57
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Altin Piriu
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  8. 8 Scene III: Chorus: Vittoria, Vittoria (Victory, Victory) 02:06
    Track
    8
    Title
    Scene III: Chorus: Vittoria, Vittoria (Victory, Victory)
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  9. 9 Scene III: Recitative: Ah si l'arpa si rechi: sulle dita scorre (Ah yes, take up your harp: the song of victory) (Soprano) 01:20
    Track
    9
    Title
    Scene III: Recitative: Ah si l'arpa si rechi: sulle dita scorre (Ah yes, take up your harp: the song of victory) (Soprano)
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Talia Or
    Ensemble
    Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  10. 10 Scene III: Trio with Chorus: Rodolfo onor de' Cesari, invitto Eroe, dov'e? (Where is Rudolf, honour of emperors, undefeated hero?) (Soprano, Bass, Chorus, Tenor) 07:41
    Track
    10
    Title
    Scene III: Trio with Chorus: Rodolfo onor de' Cesari, invitto Eroe, dov'e? (Where is Rudolf, honour of emperors, undefeated hero?) (Soprano, Bass, Chorus, Tenor)
    Duration
    07:41
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev, Talia Or, Altin Piriu
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  11. 11 Scene III: Recitative: Qual solenne concento l'orecchio ne percuote? (What solemn harmony strikes our ears?) (Tenor, Chorus) 01:19
    Track
    11
    Title
    Scene III: Recitative: Qual solenne concento l'orecchio ne percuote? (What solemn harmony strikes our ears?) (Tenor, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Altin Piriu
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  12. 12 Scene III: Chorus: Scendi de' cantici, alma custode! (Descend from our songs guardian angel!) 02:23
    Track
    12
    Title
    Scene III: Chorus: Scendi de' cantici, alma custode! (Descend from our songs guardian angel!)
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  13. 13 Scene III: Recitative: Ecco il tempio: ecco l'ara (Here is the temple, here the altar) (Soprano, Tenor) 01:44
    Track
    13
    Title
    Scene III: Recitative: Ecco il tempio: ecco l'ara (Here is the temple, here the altar) (Soprano, Tenor)
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Talia Or, Altin Piriu
    Ensemble
    Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  14. 14 Scene III: Trio with Chorus: Tu, che del fulmine movi il potere (You who have power over the thunderbolt) (Soprano, Chorus) 03:17
    Track
    14
    Title
    Scene III: Trio with Chorus: Tu, che del fulmine movi il potere (You who have power over the thunderbolt) (Soprano, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Talia Or
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  15. 15 Scene III: Recitative: Ma, qual portento e questo? (What omen is this?) (Soprano, Chorus) 00:31
    Track
    15
    Title
    Scene III: Recitative: Ma, qual portento e questo? (What omen is this?) (Soprano, Chorus)
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Talia Or
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  16. 16 Scene III: Trio with Chorus: Chi del cielo la voce comprende (He who understands the voice of heaven) (Soprano, Bass, Chorus) 01:36
    Track
    16
    Title
    Scene III: Trio with Chorus: Chi del cielo la voce comprende (He who understands the voice of heaven) (Soprano, Bass, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev, Talia Or
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  17. 17 Scene III: Finale: Trio with Chorus: Di bel contento l'etra risuoni (Let heaven resound with sweet contentment) 01:38
    Track
    17
    Title
    Scene III: Finale: Trio with Chorus: Di bel contento l'etra risuoni (Let heaven resound with sweet contentment)
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev, Talia Or, Altin Piriu
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk
  18. 18 Cantata sopra la morte di Beethoven (Cantata for the Death of Beethoven) 15:24
    Track
    18
    Title
    Cantata sopra la morte di Beethoven (Cantata for the Death of Beethoven)
    Duration
    15:24
    Composer
    Johann Simon Mayr
    Performer
    Nikolay Borchev, Talia Or, Altin Piriu
    Ensemble
    Simon Mayr Chorus, Georgische Kammerorchester Ingolstadt
    Conductor
    Franz Hauk