Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K384: Overture

Andrea Marcon and his terrific ensemble, La Cetra, approach Mozart à la Baroque − vigorously, colourfully, and with acute awareness of the sound world the composer was born into but changed forever. These overtures are gems of melodic inspiration, ingenious orchestration, and sheer zest that stand on their own.

Mozart’s operas are part of our cultural heritage. Everyone knows, more or less consciously, the most famous arias, which are even available as ringtones for mobile phones! Mozart can make us laugh, dream, ponder or weep, with the brilliance and variety of Homer or Shakespeare, and with emotions constantly on a knife-edge. From The Magic Flute to Don Giovanni, from arias to overtures, here is an ideal anthology of Mozart opera.

Andrew Kennedy has established himself as one of the best and brightest young tenors performing today; as a leading exponent of song (winning the song prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2005), and by performing regularly in opera houses around the world. This new recital disc contains a sumptuous selection of arias by Gluck, Mozart and Berlioz, and is accompanied by London’s Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Simon Over.

Naïve continues its collaboration with renowned conductor, Rinaldo Alessandrini, which sees him lead the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra in an exciting release featuring the overtures from Mozart’s greatest operas.

This is in fact Alessandrini’s first recording with an orchestra playing on modern instruments and resulted from Alessandrini’s position as Principal Guest conductor of the Norwegian National Opera that he’s held since 2005. He chose this repertoire as during his years in this position, it was the sublime music of Mozart that the Orchestra responded to best.

A virtuoso on the harpsichord, organ and fortepiano, and the founder and conductor of Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini is considered a major force in today’s international early music scene. He and his group have created new standards of excellence in the performance of 17th and 18th century Italian vocal music. Alessandrini’s desire to re-conquer the long-neglected madrigal repertory of the early seventeenth century led to the founding of the Concerto Italiano vocal ensemble. Norwegian National Opera Orchestra is one of Northern Europe’s oldest orchestras, dating back to 1827.

Thomas Fey and his unique ensemble have selected a delightful program of popular overtures and selected rarities for your listening enjoyment. From the exotic Janissary music of Mozart’s bouncy “Entführung aus dem Serail”, to Beethoven’s brooding “Egmont” to the rowdy bonhomie of Brahms’ “Academic Festival Overture”, conductor Fey reveals new and exciting worlds of sound in these familiar works. Experience collectors will especially enjoy the inclusion of the Salieri’s overture to “Tarare” and Mozart’s Symphony cum Overture KV 318.

Thomas Fey’s repertoire ranges from Bach to Brahms. His interpretations focus on the symphonies and solo concertos of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. He also likes to devote himself to the music of George Frederick Handel, the overtures of Rossini and the great waltzes of Johann Strauß.