CAVALLI Francesco - Gli amori d\'Apollo e di Dafne

Galicia Youth Symphony Orchestra, soliści, Zedda, Alberto

8.660187-88

This is very much a live performance and part of the 2004 La Coruña Festival in the Teatro Rosalía Castro. Alberto Zedda is among the older and more respected names in the Italian-Spanish operatic circuit, one that predates the current Baroque revival. It's no surprise that his approach to this work, or that of Federico Agostinelli, who furnished the performing edition, goes at matters from a different angle than the usual....
The results here are neither the rich romanticism of early Baroque opera revivals, nor the instrumental and harmonic parsimony of a few modem-day extremists. A regular orchestra is deployed, but sparingly, with stylistically appropriate decorative lines beneath the vocal melody usually supplied by the strings or select winds.... There is enough here to give pleasure. The best, such as bass Carlo Lepore, tenors José Ferrero and the theatrically vivid Agustín Prunell-Friend, and mezzos Marianna Pizzolato and Marisa Martins (the latter so fine in the title role of a recording a couple of years back of Montsalvatge's El gato con botas), reveal sound technique, good phrasing, a proper appreciation for the words, and a fine way with the very brief coloratura heard in this production. Zedda paces the work with authority, and does a fine job of seconding his singers."

Sound is good and well balanced, though this is clearly a stage production offered live. Naxos offers a lengthy summary tied to specific cuts. Considering that our chances of hearing another Gli amori d 'Apollo e di Dafne on CD in the near future are slim to nonexistent, Naxos, Agostinelli, and Zedda deserve a round of applause for making this performance available. Recommended.• Barry Brenesal, Fanfare, June 2007

CD

5.12.2006

730099618724