RECORDINGS
DeMarchi
LABEL: CPO RECORDS
CATALOG NUMBER: 555590-2
UPC NUMBER: 0761203559022
NUMBER OF DISCS: 1
RUNNING TIME: 76 MIN.
YEAR RECORDED: 2022
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 30, 2024
CONDUCTOR: ALESSANDRO DE MARCHI
ORCHESTRA: INNSBRUCKER FESTWOCHENORCHESTER
CHOIR: CORO MAGHINI
SOPRANO: ELEONORA BELLOCCI
CONTRALTO: MARGHERITA MARIA SALA
BARITONE: LUIGI DE DONATO
AUDIO SAMPLES OTHER RELEASES




NONE
DISC ONE

1 Overture 4:40
2 Accompagnato (Soprano): Confortati o Sion 2:54
3 Aria (Soprano): Ogni valle 3:28
4 Coro: E la gloria allor del ciel 2:34
5 Accompagnato (Basso): Coprirą il mondo un tenebroso velo 2:15
6 Aria (Basso): Qual chi fra l'ombre 3:02
7 Coro: Ecco gią nato un pargoletto 3:50
8 Piva 2:53
9 Recitativo (Soprano): Stavan sul campo i pastorelli ancora 0:55
10 Arioso (Soprano): E in quel momento 0:18
11 Coro: Gloria ed onor 2:00
12 Recitativo (Soprano): Saran gl'occhi del cieco aperti al giorno 0:34
13 Aria (Soprano): Sua greggia condurrą qual buon pastore 4:35
14 Coro: Alleluia 3:33
15 Coro: Gią vien l'agnel di Dio 2:54
16 Aria (Contralto): Tormento atroce 10:07
17 Accompagnato (Soprano): Ognun che il vide, in faccia a lui ridea 0:47
18 Coro: In Dio confida 2:26
19 Accompagnato (Soprano): L'acerba tua censura il cuor gli punge 1:11
20 Aria (Soprano): Deh dimmi, o passeggiero 1:29
21 Coro: Nubi rompete il vostro velo 3:10
22 Aria (Basso): Perchč con fremito 5:11
23 Recitativo (Soprano): Quei, che nel cielo ha fermo 0:22
24 Aria (Soprano): Del tuo flagello 2:05
25 Accompagnato (Basso): Eccomi a decifrarvi alto mistero h0:52
26 Coro: Degna č la vittima 8:30
SITE RATING:  8/10
SITE REVIEW:  When Georg Friedrich Handel's Messiah first premiered on the European continent, 24 years had passed since its debut. On August 6, 1768, Il Messia brought "il caro Sassone" (the dear Saxon) back posthumously to the land of his early triumphs. Before the memorable performance in Florence's Palazzo Pitti could take place, the content had to be adapted to Catholic doctrines and the expansive form to national customs. Abate Antonio Pillori achieved this in collaboration with tenor and composer Salvatore Pazzaglia.  This current live performance, recorded live at the Innsbruck Festival, is a spirited curiosity, shunning tenors for soprano airas, adding flourishes (especially notable in the Overture), and yet presenting a fine performance which manages to sound distinctly Italian and sufficiently OP to render it as near an authentic period recreation as is allowed.  Conductor Allesandro De Marchi conducts with a sure hand, never letting anything drag, yet giving wonderful breathing space to the slower movements.  The Innsbrucker Festwochenorchester play with bright virtuosity on period instruments, giving the playing a sparkling sheen; and the Coro Maghini sing with zest and fervor.  The soloists are much of the same cloth - singing with operatic power and joyful control.  Why tenors were eschewed is unknown, but soprano Eleonora Bellocci takes the opening arias with great aplomb.  Bass Luigi De Denato is a bet chesty for my tastes, but his talent and fervor are admirable.  Contralto Margherita Maria Sala comes late in the game with her "Tormento atroce" but is gloriously rich and intense.  The recorded sound is very good, with no discernible audience noise until the final applause.  Not an essential purchase, but an interesting collectable that is certainly worth hearing for its historic place in canon, as well as its fine, if abridged performance.

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