With this recording, Contrasto Armonico continues its recording project of Handel’s Italian vocal works. The first release in the series, of the serenata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, was enthusiastically welcomed. ‘Everything is shaped intelligently and tellingly’, wrote the American Record Guide; Fonoforum called it a ‘lustvoll’ recording and noted the ‘very elegant, fluid and resonant style’ of Contrasto Armonico’s playing.
This second release in the series offers a new and passionate interpretation of the great Roman oratorio La Resurrezione. This is the first recording of the work to be made at the low Roman pitch of the time, with transposed winds; Contrasto Armonico is the first orchestra in modern times to explore this field and to apply it to a well-known work by Handel.
Marco Vitale says: ‘I hope the result will show a hitherto unseen face to this significant and remarkable oratorio, allowing us to appreciate the kind of instrumental sonorities and balances one can only hear when the appropriate pitch and instruments for this music are used.’
In this Handel anniversary year of 2009 Contrasto Armonico and Brilliant Classics will continue their relationship with the release of the first volume of the complete Italian cantatas by Handel, which will focus on Roman cantatas, both with instrumental accompaniment as well as basso continuo, and therefore recorded, like La Resurrezione, at A = 392Hz.
Other information:
- 2009 was the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death. This Brilliant Classics recording of his first oratorio was an important addition to this Handel Anniversary year.
- Booklet notes with full sung texts and translations included.
