And now for something completely different…

This latest project will see us extend our pattern of pioneering exploration to the musical milieu of one of the best-known composers of the baroque era: Antonio Vivaldi.  The Venetian master came to Prague around early 1730 to oversee the production of his popular opera Il Farnace, which included the dramatic and powerful aria for the title character 'Gelido in ogni vena'. Prior to this, though, Vivaldi had several other important contacts in Prague. He dedicated his Op. 8 concertos to Count Morzin of Prague, for whose bassoonist, Anton Möser, he also composed a concerto [RV 496], to recorded with bassoonist Sally Holman. Vivaldi had previously acted as musical director for Morzin's ensemble when they travelled to Venice and Morzin's musicians became ardent admirers and imitators of Vivaldi. In this latter category is the breathtaking violin concerto in D minor by František Jiránek and Reichenauer's C minor violin concerto, both to be played by Tassilo Erhardt. Amongst the world-premieres on the disc is also Reichenauer's double concerto in F for oboe and bassoon, where Sally is joined by oboe virtuoso Mark Baigent.

 

Also grabbing the headlines in this project is our first collaboration with the fabulous Czech soprano Hana Blažíková. She will be singing a newly-reconstructed aria from the pasticcio Praga nascente da Libussa, e Primislao (Prague, 1734), 'Gelido in ogni vena' from Il Farnace and the aria for 'Fire' from František Miča's serenade Čtyři živlové [The Four Elements]—surely inspired by the popularity of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. We will also record a world-premiere reconstruction of the first opera aria in the Czech language ever performed onstage: 'Veselí a zpíváme' [We are happy and sing] first sung by the Italian contralto Teresa Peruzzi in Prague in the 1727 pasticcio Il confronto dell’ amore coniugale, sung in our recording by our good friend Ciara Hendrick (who won so many plaudits in our recording of Pepusch's Venus and Adonis). Finally, we will include a short sacred motet by Reichenauer, composed for Count Morzin's musicians to perform at a pilgrimage chapel out of Prague, featuring Tim Dickenson (bass voice) and luscious obligatory parts for violin, oboe and bassoon.

 

While we are accustomed to the name Vivaldi conjuring imagines of Venice, his relationship to Prague was clearly important, not only to Bohemian musicians, but to Vivaldi himself, praising Count Morzin's 'virtuossissima' ensemble.

This project is generously support by a grant from The Continuo Foundation and from Angel Early Music. We still have additional costs to cover as we head into rehearsals from 15 May, and then when the recording starts on 18 May. Please consider sponsoring a track or making a donation of any size to our crowdfunding campaign here. With many thanks in advance!