Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Opera Collection Vol.1: Baroque

The term ‘Baroque’ in music covers a period of around 150 years, from 1600 to 1750, and this collection of six operatic masterpieces shows the diversity of musical experience to be found from this era. All of these excellent Maggio Musicale Fiorentino productions were recorded in Florence, a city that was witness to the origins of opera and saw its rise in popularity with leading names such as Monteverdi and Vivaldi. Lully and Handel represent opera’s spread throughout Europe and its adaptation to national tastes, establishing theatrical traditions of romance and tragedy that are still universal to audiences today.

Video format / Aspect ratio: 16:9 1080/60
Audio Format: PCM STEREO 2.0 / DTS 5.1 HD Master Audio
Region Code: 0 – All regions
Notes: Italian, English

Contents:

Monteverdi - Il ritorno di Ulisse in patria

Main cast:
- Ulisse: Charles Workman (tenor)
- Telemaco: Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani (tenor)
- Penelope: Delphine Galou (alto)
Orchestra Accademia Bizantina / Ottavio Dantone
Director: Robert Carsen
video director: Tiziano Mancini

‘The singing is generally excellent. Top honors go to Charles Workman as Ulisse, who combines vocal sonority and control with nuanced passion, and Arianna Vendittelli as Minerva, who dispatches her coloratura with blazing fire.’ – Fanfare

Production year: 2022
Recording dates: 28–30 June 2021
Recording place: Teatro della Pergola, Florence, Italy
Duration: 165 min.
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean

Lully - Acis et Galatée

Main cast:
- Acis: Jean-François Lombard (tenor)
- Galatée: Elena Harsányi (soprano)
- Poliphème: Luigi De Donato (bass)
Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Federico Maria Sardelli
Director: Benjamin Lazar

‘The singing is on a high level… Elena Harsanyi is a lovely and dignified Galatea, vocally and dramatically commanding …Valeria La Grotta exhibits fine, firm tone and an exciting stage presence as Scylla. Conductor Federico Maria Sardelli invites us to revel in this irresistible score, full of compelling syncopations and caressing lyricism.’ – American Record Guide

Production year: 2023
Recording date: 9 July 2020
Recording place: Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Sala Zubin Mehta, Florence, Italy
Duration: 112 min.
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean

Handel - Rinaldo

Main cast:
- Armida: Carmela Remigio (soprano)
- Goffredo: Leonardo Cortellazzi (tenor)
- Almirena: Francesca Aspromonte (soprano)
- Rinaldo: Raffaele Pe (countertenor)
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Federico Maria Sardelli
Director: Pier Luigi Pizzi
Video director: Tiziano Mancini

‘This is a rare example of sensible intelligence being brought to bear on a Baroque opera… It is only right that this famous staging should have been preserved on film, and the production is here given added lustre by Pe’s splendid Rinaldo.’ – Opera

Production year: 2021
Recording date: 9 September 2020
Recording place: Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
Duration: 131 min.
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean

Intermedi della Pellegrina (various composers)

Main cast:
- Rossana Bertini (soprano I)
- Elena Bertuzzi (soprano II)
- Candida Guida (alto)
- Paolo Fanciullacci (tenor)
- Marco Scavazza (baritone)
- Mauro Borgioni (bass)
Orchestra Modo Antiquo, Coro Ricercare Ensemble, Compagnia Dramatodìa / Federico Maria Sardelli
Director: Valentino Villa
Video director: Tiziano Mancini

‘The fine singers and players are effective actors as well.’ – Fanfare

Production year: 2020
Recording dates: 16 – 18 June 2019
Recording place: Giardino di Boboli, Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy
Duration: 78 min.
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Korean

Vivaldi - Il Farnace

Main cast:
- Farnace: Mary-Ellen Nesi (mezzo-soprano)
- Berenice: Delphine Galou (alto)
- Tamiri: Sonia Prina (alto)
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Federico Maria Sardelli
Director: Marco Gandini
Video director: Matteo Ricchetti

‘Vivaldi expert Federico Maria Sardelli directs the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale, Florence, with both precision and panache…Mary-Ellen Nesi is compelling in the title role…soprano Roberta Mameli is a mellifluous Gilade.’ – BBC Music Magazine

Production year: 2015
Recording dates: 29 and 31 May 2013
Recording place: Teatro Comunale di Firenze, Florence, Italy
Duration: 151 min.
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean

Vinci - Didone abbandonata

Main cast:
- Didone: Roberta Mameli (soprano)
- Enea: Carlo Allemano (tenor)
- Iarba: Raffaele Pe (countertenor)
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Carlo Ipata
Director: Deda Cristina Colonna
Video director: Matteo Ricchetti

‘Mameli does have a splendid voice; Allemano has trouble with some of the coloratura. Raffaele Pé, who plays Iarba, displays a good countertenor, and the rest are acceptable.’ – Fanfare

Production year: 2017
Recording date: January 2017
Recording place: Opera di Firenze Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
Duration: 166 min.
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German