Graun: Adriano in Siria

Ensemble 1700, Fiorio, Federico, Fuge,Keri, Mameli, Roberta, Oberlinger, Dorothee, Sa, Bruno de, Sabadus, Valer, Tricou, David

19658812322

Dorothee Oberlinger is a world-class recorder player, the recipient of numerous awards. Furthermore, as conductor of her Ensemble 1700 and as the keenly adventurous artistic director of the Potsdam Music Festival, she regularly delivers valuable musical discoveries, including in the operatic realm.

In 2024, for example, she presented the baroque opera "Adriano in Siria" by Carl Heinrich Graun (1703–1759) with a top-class vocal ensemble, which will now be released by Deutsche Harmonia Mundi / Sony Music.

The opera, which premiered at the Royal Opera in Berlin in 1746 and has never been performed again since, tells the story of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (Adriano), who ruled Syria in the 2nd century AD. Over the three acts, it develops into a story of love and intrigue, jealousy and sacrifice. In the end, Hadrian reveals himself to be a benevolent emperor.

In the recording of "Adriano in Siria," made in 2024 as part of the Potsdam Music Festival, countertenor Valer Sabadus can be heard in the title role. The Roman soprano Roberta Mameli takes on the role of Emirena, coveted by the emperor. Two male sopranos, Bruno de Sá as Farnaspe and Federico Fiorio as Aquilio, also appear. Keri Fuge contributes a radiant soprano voice to the role of Adriano's future wife, while David Tricou (tenor) embodies the role of the defeated Syrian king Osroa. Dorothee Oberlinger, who founded the ensemble in Cologne over 20 years ago, conducts Ensemble 1700, which specializes in historical performance practice.

Baroque composer Carl Heinrich Graun was the composition teacher of the future Prussian King Frederick the Great. He also composed 26 operas for the Berlin court. Graun's best-known opera is "Montezuma." With the world premiere recording of the opera “Adriano in Siria,” which is full of brilliant and sensitive arias, Dorothee Oberlinger and her ensemble have closed an important gap in the repertoire.

CD x 3

DHM

13.06.25

196588123221