BARGAIN OF THE MONTH
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Bajazet (1735) [146:23]
Bajazet – Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (bass-baritone)
Tamerlane – David Daniels (counter-tenor)
Asteria – Marijana Mijanovic (alto)
Andronicus – Elina Garanca (mezzo)
Irene – Vivica Genaux (mezzo)
Idaspe – Patrizia Ciofi (soprano)
Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi
rec. Musica Numeris, Flagey Studio 4, Brussels, 10-15 April 2004. DDD
VIRGIN CLASSICS 4564592 [73:35 + 72:48]
In many ways this double CD set of Vivaldi’s opera is a bargain buy. A re-release
of the original 2005 issue, it comes at an affordable mid-price. But more
than that, it packs in two-and-a-half hours of glorious music from the Italian
Baroque.
Composed for the Carnival season in Verona in 1735, Bajazet is a ‘pasticcio’
opera based on the familiar story of the eponymous Turkish sultan’s imprisonment
at the hands of the Tartar tyrant Tamerlane. As such, it openly uses arias
by other composers, including Hasse, Broschi and Giacomelli, as well as re-cycled
pieces from Vivaldi’s own operas (L’Olimpiade, Giustino, Farnace, Semiramide
and Montezuma among them).
But this is no mere patchwork of recycled numbers. All the ‘borrowed’ arias
are expertly placed within the dramatic fabric of the work and are held together
with richly composed recitatives. What we end up with is the best of the best
in terms of Neapolitan-style opera – tuneful, virtuosic and passionate. Virtually
every number in this recording is a highlight.
What really lifts the recording is the quality of the performances. There
are no holes or flaws among the experienced cast. David Daniels makes a fine
Tamerlane – slippery and cruel – while Marijana Mijanovic’s Asteria packs
a powerful dramatic punch. Top marks too for Vivica Genaux in the technically
demanding role of Irene. Ildebrando D’Arcangelo makes a commanding Bajazet,
although his tough dignity comes at the loss of some sensitivity.
Europa Galante under Fabio Biondi’s careful direction are a pleasure to listen
to. Their playing of the opening Sinfonia powerfully sets up the rest of the
opera. They stomp through Vivaldi’s pounding rhythms, and provide delicate
support during the more contemplative arias. The sound recording is excellent.
Even the guitar, theorbo and harpsichord continuo – often obscured by heavy
strings – are perfectly audible here.
There is a bonus DVD which consists of performances of seven of the opera’s
arias, filmed at the Brussels studios during recording sessions. It is good
to see the players and soloists in the flesh, but the DVD does not give much
insight into the opera itself. Another niggle is the lack of a synopsis (let
alone a libretto) in the sleeve-notes. To get that, you have to put the second
CD into a CD-ROM drive, if you have one.
John-Pierre Joyce
The best of the best in terms of Neapolitan-style opera – tuneful, virtuosic
and passionate. Virtually every number in this recording is a highlight.