William Christie, Les Arts Florissants - Stefano Landi: Il Sant' Alessio (2008)
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 162 min | 7.00+4.17 Gb (DVD9+DVD5)
Classical | Label: Virgin | Sub: English, Francais, Deutsch, Italiano, Espanol | Recorded: 2007
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 162 min | 7.00+4.17 Gb (DVD9+DVD5)
Classical | Label: Virgin | Sub: English, Francais, Deutsch, Italiano, Espanol | Recorded: 2007
The libretto, written by Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi (the future Pope Clement IX), tells the story of saintly sacrifice: on his wedding night Alessio departs alone for the Holy Land in search of sanctity. Years later he returns unrecognised as a beggar to his family home, where his father, mother and wife still mourn him. A demon tempts Alessio to reveal his true identity and so end his family’s grief, but an angel keeps him on the sacred path. The dying Alessio leaves a letter explaining the truth and an angelic chorus bids his family to rejoice rather than mourn, since he has been received into heaven. This strange, solemn and elevated story is leavened with comic scenes in the commedia dell’arte vein, adding to the rich musico-dramatic variety of the entire opera.
Performer:
Sant’ Alessio – Philippe Jaroussky
Sposa – Max Emanuel Cencic
Eufemiano – Alain Buet
Madre – Xavier Sabata
Curtio – Damien Guillon
Nuntio – Pascal Bertin
Martio – Jose Lemos
Demonio – Luigi De Donoto
Nutrice – Jean-Paul Bonnevalle
Religione, Roma – Terry Wey
Adrasto – Ryland Provost
Uno del choro – Ludovic Provost
Angelo – Benjamin Hiraux, Pierre-Alain Mercier
La Maîtrise de Caen
Les Arts Florissants
Music director – William Christie