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Hercules reborn! Rolando Villazón and Joyce DiDonato lead a dazzling cast in Vivaldi’s opera Ercole sul’Termodonte, first heard in Rome in 1723 and reconstructed by conductor Fabio Biondi from the original libretto, historical scores and his intimate knowledge of the composer.
Like the mythical Hercules, hero of this opera by Vivaldi, dynamic tenor Rolando Villazón has triumphed over some huge challenges, including an operation in 2009 on his vocal cords.
In this, his first complete studio recording of an opera for Virgin Classics, he takes on the title role of Hercules (Ercole), whose mission is to obtain the belt of the Amazon queen Hippolyta (Ippolita). She is portrayed by Joyce DiDonato, whose Virgin Classics album of Handel, ‘Furore’, gave ample evidence of both her seductive powers and her intrepid spirit in Baroque music. Completing the cast is a dazzling line-up of virtuoso star singers: Diana Damrau, Vivica Genaux, Philippe Jaroussky, Patrizia Ciofi, Romina Basso and Topi Lehtipuu.
The conductor is Italian Baroque specialist Fabio Biondi, directing his group Europa Galante. His Virgin Classics recording of Vivaldi’s opera Bajazet, nominated for a Grammy, won multiple awards including the Grand Prix de l'Académie du Disque Lyrique in France, an ECHO Award in Germany and a Midem Classical Award. It also received the highest praise from publications such as Le Monde de la Musique, Diapason, Classica-Répertoire, Opéra International, Pizzicato, Opera News and Gramophone, which said: “Fabio Biondi and his players bring out countless nuances in the score with their usual array of interpretative devices ranging from gentle cello chords in recitative to sparky off-beat accents and pizzicati, and even some acid sul ponticello. There could hardly be a better way to bring this opera to life.”
Biondi himself brought the score back to life, reconstructing it for performance in Venice in 2007, and subsequently in Paris in 2009. No autograph score or contemporary copy of the opera was in existence, but Biondi worked from the libretto printed for the first performances in Rome in 1723. He was then able to identify various arias from other Vivaldi scores kept in libraries around Europe, principally in France and Germany. In many cases, he also orchestrated the arias, extrapolating from their musical substance and his intimate knowledge of Vivaldi’s practice. Where no source existed for an aria or chorus, he reconstructed the music by adapting and borrowing from other works by Vivaldi. He also composed all the recitatives.
As Biondi explains: “This opera occupies a special and emblematic position in Vivaldi’s life. At the age of 45, he took the risk of presenting an opera in Rome for the first time … Ercole proved a resounding success … The city was full of talk about this opera which, by introducing a new musical style, seemed to revolutionise a genre much loved in the Eternal City. His melodic invention, his bel canto lyricism, rhythmic impulse and colourful instrumentation captured the imagination of music lovers.”
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710: Sinfonia
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 1: Recitativo: Itene, o mie compagne
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 1: Coro: Oh figlia di Giove
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 1: Aria: Dea di Delo
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 1: Recitativo: Dunque ché più si tarda?
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 1: A due: Sereno il cielo
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 2: Recitativo: Antiope, genitrice
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 2: Aria: Con aspetto lusinghiero
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 3: Recitativo: Mostro di tal natura
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 3: Aria: Certo pensier ch'ho in petto
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 3: Sinfonia
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 4: Recitativo: Amici, eccoci omai
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 4: Aria: Vedrà l'empia
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 4: Recitativo: Grand'Alcide, io ti seguo
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 4: Aria: Quella beltà
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 5: Recitativo: No, che amor non è fallo in cor guerriero
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 6: Recitativo: Da sì nobile sfera
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 6: Aria: Occhio, che il sol rimira
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 7: Recitativo: All'armi, all'armi
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 8: Recitativo: Orizia generosa
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 9: Recitativo: Per riveder l'aspetto
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 9: Aria: Non saria pena la mia
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 10: Recitativo: martesia è mia
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 10: Aria: Un sguardo, un vezzo, un riso
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 11: Recitativo: Per sì bella speranza che non saprò tentar?
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 11: Aria: Sento con qual diletto
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 12: Recitativo: Ercole, ohimè!
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act I, Scena 12: Sinfonia: Abbattimento sul ponte
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 1: Aria: Onde chiare che sussurrate
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 1: Recitativo: Quanto per me fatale
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 1: Aria: Bel piacer ch'è la vendetta
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 1: Recitativo: Palpita per timore il core amante
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 1: Aria: Da due venti
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 2: Coro: Viva Orizia, viva, viva
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 2: Recitativo: Germane, al regio piede
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 3: Recitativo: Là: doppie ritorte stringano il prigioniero
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 3: Aria: Sì, bel volto, che v'adoro
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 4: Recitativo: Oh dolcissime voci!
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 4: Aria: Se ingrata sera
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 5: Recitativo: Prigioniero Teseo?
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 6: Recitativo: Udisti Orizia?
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 6: Aria: Se libertà mi rendi
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 6: Recitativo: Così Alceste deluso
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 6: Aria: Tender lacci egli pretese
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 7: Recitativo: Molto tu oprasti, Alceste
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 7: Aria: No, non dirai così
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 8: Recitativo: Bella, di Sparta il trono
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 8: Aria: lo sembro appunto
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 9: Recitativo: Ad onta della sorte
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 9: Aria: Ei nel volto ha un non so che
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 10: Recitativo: Almen foste presenti
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 11: Recitativo: Il fiero colpo arresta
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 12: Recitativo: Oh care mie catene!
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act II, Scena 12: Aria: Scorre il fiume mormorando
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 1: Accompagnato: Misero! Dove fuggo?
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 2: Recitativo: Ecco al tuo piede
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 3: Signor, avea per la rapita figlia, Antiope giurato
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 3: Aria: Non fia della vittoria
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 4: Alceste, ohimè!
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 4: Aria: Se ben sente arder le piume
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 5: Siam perdute, o regina
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 5: Aria: Caderò, ma sopra il vinto
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 6:: Recitativo: Renditi, o che sei morta!
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 6:: Aria: Amato ben
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 6:: Recitativo: Sì, vanne e spera, o bella
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 6:: Aria: Ti sento, sì ti sento
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 7: Martesia, e come qui?
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 7: Duetto: Spera, bell'idol mio
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 8: Regio mio brando illustre
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 8: Aria: Scenderò, volerò, griderò
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 9: Recitativo: Ah, ingiusta sorte!
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 10: Aria: Coronatemi le chiom
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 10: Recitativo: Non l'hai tutte ancor vinte
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena 11: Recitativo: ma la richiesta è vana
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena ultima: Recitativo: Signor, mirati al piede
Ercole sul Termodonte RV710, Act III, Scena ultima: Coro: Cinzia e Giove
6th December 2010
****
“Villazón looms large in the title role of the Vivaldi opera here so vividly captured on disc...In vocal colour and style [he] always stands apart from his vocal colleagues. He’s louder and broader, less bothered about immaculate pitch...[yet] a jolting mix of vocal styles at least fits the score...the absence of weighty matter in no way diminishes the music’s brilliance”
19th December 2010
“The secret here is Vivaldi's score, given a wonderfully energised performance by a cast of megastars...The Venetian composer is ubiquitously popular for his Four Seasons but his operas, making a gradual comeback, so far remain specialist territory.”
January 2011
*****
“Joyce DiDonato is compelling as the passionate Hippolyta, her 'Onde chiare' especially beguiling. Vivica Genaux is splendid in the role of the warrior-queen Antiope, presenting her credentials with confrontational fervour...Lively, incisive and stylish instrumental playing by Europa Galante provide sympathetic rapport with the voices.”
February 2011
****
“Amongst several strong vocal performances, Joyce DiDonato's is the one to cherish, especially her exquisite 'Onde chiare che sussurrate'. Rolando Villazón as Hercules is on dramatically good form...Biondi's orchestral interpretation is a flowing one...but the rhythmic vitality is still most present...it's worth the money for DiDonato's fabulous performance alone.”
March 2011
“it is exciting to hear a Baroque opera sung by an almost entirely high-class cast (only the threadbare Patrizia Ciofi is below par)...Villazón is suitably larger than life as Hercules; he gets around tricky coloratura passages and embellishes with unbridled bravado...spirited gusto is certainly the order of the day from Europa Galante.”
4th February 2011
****
“As the first stage work that Vivaldi wrote in Rome, scholars find the score of exceptional musicological interest; the rest of us will find it an entertaining parade of shortish arias contrasting in mood, rich in melody and full of energy, in a performance that could hardly be bettered.”
March 2011
“DiDonato is first among equals in this star-studded recording: Vivica Genaux's dazzlingly sung, resinous Antiope is well contrasted with the plush, voluptuous alto of Romina Basso's Teseo, whilst Patrizia Ciofi and Diana Damrau's gleaming bright sopranos are easily distinguishable as Orizia and Martesia...Biondi and his Europa Galante are, as ever, live wires 'in the pit'”
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Ercole sul Termodonte RV710: Sinfonia
