Pablo Heras-Casado & Concerto Koln - El Maestro Farinelli (2014) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Pablo Heras-Casado, one of the most exciting conductors of his generation (Die Welt), makes his Archiv Produktion debut performing instrumental and vocal music associated with Farinelli, the legendary 18th-century castrato who served as impresario and court musician to the kings of Spain.

As one of the label s Archiv Ambassadors Pablo Heras-Casado enjoys an unusually varied conducting career: He has encompassed the great symphonic and operatic repertoire, historically-informed performance and cutting-edge contemporary scores, and has already developed a special rapport with a number of soloists, orchestras and opera houses.

Now he returns to his core repertoire and musical heritage.

Farinelli the most admired of all castrato singers was a legend already during his life. From 1724 to 1734 he achieved extraordinary success in many northern Italian cities incl. Venice, Milan, Florence, Parma and Turino, before he signed a contract in London with the company of the composer Porpora (Porpora was at that time Handel's competitor, Handel failed to secure Farinelli.)

Farinelli decided to break his contract in 1737, as he was called by the queen of Spain to help cure the debilitating depression of Philip V. It became his responsibility to serenade the king every night an obligation he apparently maintained until the king s death in 1746.

This new album with works of Baroque composers like Hasse, Porpora and Jomelli represents a fine selection of pieces, which Farinelli presented during his time as concert master/conductor in Madrid and Aranjuez. El Maestro Farinelli features eight world premier recordings, including some arias sung by Bejun Mehta, the best countertenor in the world (Süddeutsche Zeitung).

TRACKLIST

Nicola Conforto (1718–1793)

Overture to La festa cinese World premiere recording
01 (Allegro) – Andante – (Allegro) 04:00

Nicola Porpora (1686-1768)

Overture to Carlo il calvo World premiere recording
02 Allegro – Minuet – Contradanza 04:27

Johann Adolf Hasse (1699–1783)

Sinfonia op.5 no.6
03 Allegro 04:08
04 Andante sempre 01:54
05 Allegro 03:24

José de Nebra (1702–1768)

Tempestad grande World premiere recording
06 Fandango from the zarzuela Vendado es amor, no es ciego 02:50

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788)

Sinfonia In E Minor "Fandango" Wq178
07 Allegro assai 04:03
08 Andante moderato 03:34
09 Allegro 03:25

Francesco Corradini (1690–1769)

10. Baile de las máscaras (excerpts) 05:02 World premiere recording

Juan Marcolini (born 1730's , flourished 1760 – 70)

Overture to La dicha en la desgracia y vida campestre World premiere recording
11 Allegro assai e spiritoso 03:35

Nicola Porpora (1686-1768)

12 Alto Giove from Polifemo 08:31 World premiere recording

José de Nebra (1702–1768)

13 Seguidilla from Amar y ser amado y la divina Philotea (incidental music) 1:29 World premiere recording
14 Seguidilla from Para obsequio a la deydad, nunca es culto la crueldad, y Iphigenia en Tracia 0:54 World premiere recording
15 Seguidilla from Vendado es amor, no es ciego 1:13 World premiere recording
16 Canción from Viento es la dicha de amor 1:08 World premiere recording
17 Seguidilla (1) from Donde hay violencia no hay culpa (attributed) 2:39 World premiere recording
18 Seguidilla (2) from Donde hay violencia no hay culpa 0:52 World premiere recording

Niccolò Jommelli (1714–1774)

Periodical Overture World premiere recording
19 Allegro di molto – Chaconne 05:49

Tommaso Traetta (1727–1779)

Overture to Armida World premiere recording
20 Allegro – Andante – Allegro 05:29