Capella de la Torre - Francesco Cavalli: Transitions (2023) [Official Digital Download]

In 1675, the Italian Francesco Cavalli was at the peak of his fame. His approximately 40 operas have become an integral part of Venice's repertoire. And the French sun king had danced to Cavalli's music. But in that year 1675, the former pupil of Monteverdi felt that he probably would not have long to live. So he composed his own "Mass for the Dead", which was to be performed twice a year in his memory. This "Requiem" was first heard in Cavalli's year of death in 1676. And this "Missa pro defunctis" was still admired in the 19th century. Thus, this sacred opus Magnum was even put on a par with Mozart's "Requiem" in terms of its spiritual power. This masterpiece of sacred Baroque music is now the focus of the new album "TRANSITIONS" by the Capella de la Torre. Under the direction of ensemble founder Katharina Bäuml, the award-winning early music ensemble presents Cavalli's Requiem in a special version, because Katharina Bäuml expanded the ensemble by significantly more instruments in order to produce a balanced mixture of singing voices and instruments, especially wind instruments. Even if Francesco Cavalli did not provide any obligatory instruments in his requiem and the instrumental accompaniment is limited to the Basso continuo according to the score, it can be assumed that string and wind instruments were already involved in the first performances of the work. The instruments have either amplified or completely replaced certain vocal sections. In the present recording, the Capella de la Torre takes up this practice, with the instruments of the city plovers (the piffari) with shawm, Pomeranian and trombones playing an essential role. The fusion of the human and instrumental voices in Cavalli's "Opus ultimum" results in a distinctive and deeply emotional sound impression. In this combination Cavalli's music can be heard for the first time on this recording. And on the album, the individual parts of the requiem can be heard in a charming combination with other vocal and instrumental works by contemporaries of Cavalli, works by Maurizio Cazzati, Giovanni Bassano and other composers from the Venetian environment, which Katharina Bäuml has virtually incorporated into the requiem.

TRACKLIST

1 Gli amori d'Apollo e di Dafne: Sinfonia II
2 Missa pro defunctis, Introitus: Requiem aeternam
3 Missa pro defunctis, Introitus: Kyrie - Christe - Kyrie
4 Missa pro defunctis, Introitus: Sequentia. Dies irae
5 Acceso mio cuore (Ciaconna)
6 Missa pro defunctis, Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe
7 Gli amori d'Apollo e di Dafne: Sinfonia I
8 Missa pro defunctis, Sanctus: Sanctus Dominus - Benedictus
9 Missa pro defunctis, Sanctus: Agnus Dei
10 O bone Jesu (Arr. for Renaissance ensemble & Choir by Capella de la Torre)
11 Missa pro defunctis, Libera me
12 In convertendo
13 Miserere mei Domine (Arr. for Organ by Capella de la Torre) - Fiedler, Martina
14 Dic nobis Maria
15 Trattenimenti per camera, Op. 22, No. 13: Passacaglio (Arr. for Renaissance ensemble by Capella de la Torre)
16 Victimae Paschali laudes



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