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La Catena d’Adone was first performed in 1626 and marked the arrival of opera in Rome. With all the characteristics of the genre, a pastoral tale in one prologue and five acts, it chronicles the tumultuous love lives of Adonis, Apollo, Venus and Falsirena… Its frivolous and sensual, why even erotic tone, is placed in sharp contrast with Christian morality in a perfectly mastered Recitarcantando style supported here by a wealth of instruments.
This opera whose mark on the early baroque period was immense, here appears for the first time on a recording. This disc is also important in the catalogue of Alpha as it inaugurates the arrival of a very young conductor, who is also a director, singer and player of theorbo, harpsichord and harp, and follows the path set by great musical pioneers such as Vincent Dumestre and Pablo Valetti.
Domenico Mazzocchi: La catena d'Adone
Prologue: Sinfonia 16
Prologue: De puri campi o Regnator lucente (Apollo)
Prologue: La Saette sovr'i Rei (Ciclopi) - Ritornello
Act I Scene 1: E qual dolce novella (Falsirena, Idonia)
Act I Scene 2: Rapido a par de venti (Adone, Echo)
Act I Scene 2: Dunque piagge ridenti (Adone)
Act I Scene 3: Tanto basti a l'incanto (Falsinera, Idonia, Adone)
Act I Scene 3: Rida l'auretta amante (Falsinera)
Act I Scene 3: Mira, mira gioioso (Chorus)
Act II: Sinfonia 12
Act II Scene 1: Dunque Oraspe fedel nuntio ne sei (Idonia, Oraspe, Arsete)
Act II Scene 2: O nel volto non meno (Falsinera, Oraspe, Idonia, Arsete)
Act II Scene 2: Qua tra gioie gradite (Falsinera)
Act II Scene 3: O meraviglie altissime d'Amore (Chorus)
Act III: Sinfonia 8
Act III Scene 1: Qual indurato scoglio (Arsete)
Act III Scene 2: Son deste le mie luci (Adone)
Act III Scene 3: Dove, dove ne vai (Falsinera, Adone)
Act III Scene 4: L'alme pure degli Dei (Falsinera, Idonia, Oraspe, Chorus)
Act III Scene 4: Su su dunque pastori (Chorus)
Act IV: Sinfonia 9
Act IV Scene 1: O con dubbio stupore (Idonia)
Act IV Scene 2: Dubbiosa e vacillante (Idonia)
Act IV Scene 3: Per cosi lieve brama (Falsinera, Plutone)
Act IV Scene 3: De la Maga il grave accento (Chorus)
Act V: Sinfonia 11
Act V Scene 1: Amor non sia che speri (Adone)
Act V Scene 2: D'acque mahcihe sparsa (Falsirena, Adone)
Act V Scene 2: Dunque liete e ridenti (Falsirena)
Act V Scene 3: Florido nembo dal suo grembo (Venere, Adone, Amore, Falsirena)
Act V Scene 3: Si, si, cara mia speme (Venere, Amore, Adone)
Act V Scene 3: La selva con bei canti (Chorus)
Act V Scene 3: Lieto dopo l'errore (Chorus)
October 2012
“Haute-contre Reinoud Van Mechelen's top register is impressively sweet in Adones first monologue...and the incantation scene between the desperate sorceress and unhelpful Pluto in Act 4 is compelling in its supernatural darkness and emotional bitterness.”
26th April 2012
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“La Catena d'Adone shows some debt to Monteverdi, but its declamatory style owes more to the Florentine intermedi of the end of the 16th century...The singers and instrumentalists of Scherzi Musicali have worked hard to master this nuanced, flexible style; the eight singers double roles as well as forming the chorus, and accompaniments are touched in tactfully. It's presented with great care, even if its significance seems more historical than musical.”
Prologue: Sinfonia 16
