It
seems that we are on the brink of a 'Conti renaissance'. His
name has appeared on concert programmes and on disc a number
of times since the beginning of this century. In 2002 I heard
a performance of his tragicomedia 'Don Chisciotte in Sierra
Morena' in my hometown of Utrecht (the Netherlands). Some years
later René Jacobs performed the same work in Innsbruck. At least
two recordings have been devoted to compositions by Conti: cantatas
with Bernarda Fink and Ars Antiqua Austria (Arcana). There’s
also a recording of vocal and instrumental works with Ulrike
Hofbauer and the Neue Hofkapelle München on the label of the
Austrian broadcasting company ORF. Considering the quality and
specific features of Conti's music it is rather surprising that
it has taken so long for this music to be rediscovered.
There
was no lack of appreciation of Conti as both a composer and
a performer in his time. He was born in Florence, but spent
the largest part of his life in Vienna, where he worked at the
imperial court. In 1708 he was appointed first theorbo player.
In 1713 he also became court composer. After these appointments
he was one of the highest paid musicians in Vienna. As a result
he was able to perform his own works with the best singers,
since he could pay them well. After falling ill in 1726 he went
back to Italy, but in 1732 returned to Vienna to introduce some
new works. It is an indication of his reputation that his successor
as court composer, Antonio Caldara, had to step aside to make
way for Conti. Conti died shortly after his return to Vienna.
Colleagues
were full of praise for Conti. Johann Joachim Quantz called
him "an inventive and fiery, occasionally somewhat bizarre
composer". In his 'Musicalisches Lexicon' of 1723 Johann
Gottfried Walther described him as "an excellent master".
Johann Sebastian Bach seems to have appreciated him as well,
as Conti's cantata 'Languet anima mea' has been found in his
library. And Johann Mattheson, in 'Der Vollkommene Capellmeister'
of 1739, called him "the great musician" and "an
excellent scholar".
Conti
is first and foremost known as a composer of vocal music, in
particular operas. However he was, by profession, a player of
the theorbo, and a famous one at that. That said, no solo pieces
for theorbo by Conti are known. The only traces of his skills
can be found in the obbligato parts for theorbo in his operas,
oratorios and cantatas.
That
is also the case in the 'azione sacra per musica', as it is
officially described by Conti, which is recorded here. It received
its premiere in 1724. It wasn't the first time Conti had written
music on this subject. The year before he had completed 'Il
David perseguitato da Saul' on a libretto by A. di Avanzo. In
fact that oratorio was the first version of the oratorio performed
here: Conti reworked the music whereas Apostolo Zeno, one of
the most famous writers of opera and oratorio libretti before
Metastasio, rewrote the libretto. As I have already said Conti
used the theorbo as an obbligato instrument in his vocal works.
In the work recorded here it represents the harp which David
plays to soothe King Saul in one of his bursts of madness. It
can be heard in the Preludio in the middle of the second part.
This is followed by a recitativo accompagnato and an aria in
which the entrance of the solo voice is preceded by a long instrumental
introduction for the theorbo and the strings. It lasts almost
two and a half minutes.
It
could well be that Conti's recitatives are influenced by his
own involvement in their performance. As Alan Curtis writes
in his programme notes: "It seems to me that his having
played the theorbo so well may explain why Conti took such care
composing his recitatives, which are extremely original and
often very moving, their harmony in general more varied and
less predictable than in most recitative of the period".
He gives some striking examples of this. But it isn't just the
recitatives and in particular their harmony which are surprising.
The same can be said about the arias, which show a remarkable
amount of melodic invention. They not only contain splendid
music, they also give striking examples of Conti's ability to
express the content of the text and the mood of the character.
Saul's aria 'Stringe Iddio l'ultrice spada' (part 1), for instance,
is dominated by descending figures, which reflect its content:
"God grasps the sword of vengeance. He raises his arm and
seeks my fall". He has just found out that both his son
Jonathan and daughter Michal take David's side. This aria perfectly
expresses his mood. Another example is Abner's aria 'Al fianco
anzi vorrei' (part 2), in which he complains about the influence
of 'flatterers' like Saul's counsellor Phalti, who was promised
to marry Michal before she was given to David. The texts: "I
would rather have by my side cruel, wicked enemies than a swarm
of deceitful flatterers", and the mood is expressed in
the obbligato violin part. Fierce chords from the strings illustrate
the "giant steps" Saul takes to arrest David as he
announces in his aria 'A passo di gigante' (part 2).
It
is not known exactly how this oratorio was first performed or
whether it was staged. But as far as its dramatic character
is concerned there is no real difference with the opera of the
time. It starts at the very beginning with the dialogue between
David, Michal and Jonathan. There it becomes increasingly clear
that Saul wants to take action against David, because he is
more popular with the people than he is. Another dramatic highlight
is the heated debate between Saul, his children Michal and Jonathan
and his general Abner towards the end of the first part. In
the second it is the moment David is asked to play for Saul,
when the king goes mad again and tries to kill David.
The
taste at the court in Vienna was rather conservative, and there
was a clear preference for polyphony. Conti doesn't fail to
pay tribute to this in the choruses which close both the first
and the second part. In particular the last chorus is full of
strong dissonances, again proving his feeling text and its expression
as the choir sings: "A wicked man can prophesy and work
miracles. But holy fire, you cannot reside with the wicked.
Other gifts have an end, you have none". This follows immediately
on an accompanied recitative, in which Saul acts like a prophet:
"My throne. Who sits upon it? I recognise him: it is David.
Here is the Tree that spreads and flowers for all eternity.
O happy plant, that produces the Fruit that blesses the world."
This is a clear reference to Christ - in line with the convention
in Vienna to refer to his birth or his passion in an oratorio.
Not uncommon is the sudden entrance of a trombone in one aria,
here in the second part in David's aria 'Di al mio re'.
The
choruses are sung here by a choir of 16 singers. One could argue
that a performance by the soloists is more appropriate; in those
days it certainly was the most common way of singing such choruses.
But Alan Curtis feels a choir creates a stronger contrast with
the soloists. Whatever one may think about this, the choir gives
excellent performances of the three choruses (the third opens
the second part and is more homophonic than the other two).
Alan
Curtis has done a great job, not just by recording this work,
but also with his casting decisions. I haven't always been impressed
by Marijana Mijanovic, technically or stylistically, but here
she sings the role of David quite beautifully. The role of Saul
was originally sung by Gaetano Orsini, the tenor for whom Handel
later wrote Bajazet in his opera Tamerlano. The relevant voice
type role is a 'tenore baritonale', as the part goes rather
deep. Furio Zanasi gives a brilliant performance, expressing
the moods of his character very well. The mad scene in part
2 is particularly well done. Saul's son Jonathan is given remarkably
beautiful arias, and Birgitte Christensen - the only soloist
I had never heard before - sings them most impressively and
with great style. I find her voice very beautiful. Simone Kermes
gives a very fine characterisation of Michal, in particular
the inner conflict between the love for her father and for David.
Abner, the voice of reason, and Phalti, Saul's cunning counsellor,
are well portrayed by Sonia Prina and Vito Priante respectively.
Il Complesso Barocco realises the score with panache, and the
often dramatic character of the instrumental accompaniment in
the arias comes out very convincingly. The orchestra's leader
Andrea Keller plays the violin solo in Abner's aria in part
2 and the theorbo solo is played by Jakob Lindberg.
In
short: Conti's oratorio David is a splendid piece, which
fully deserves to be part of the standard repertoire. I am very
happy that this work has been recorded, and in a top-notch interpretation
to boot. There is every chance it will end up as one of my Records
of The Year. I just hope more of Conti's compositions will
be explored, performed and recorded. I'm sure we shall be surprised
again when they are.
Johan van Veen
Birgitte Christensen
(soprano): Gionata; Simone Kermes (soprano): Micol; Marijana Mijanovic
(alto): David; Sonia Prina (alto): Abner; Vito Priante (baritone):
Falti; Furio Zanasi (baritone): Saul. 
