An homage to the Baroque singer and composer Barbara Strozzi (1619–1677), this album is titled La voce sola. That final word, ‘single’, ‘only’ or ‘alone’, points to the fact that most of Strozzi’s works are written for solo voice, usually her own, a fact that makes her music especially intimate and personal. It emphasises the uniqueness of her musical language and her distinctive voice as a composer but also refers to the difficulties of her striving alone in her personal and creative endeavours. This recital is a career survey of this great composer, from her first collections to her last opus, in chronological order, including a world-premiere recording of a work with no opus number.
Born in Venice, Strozzi was one of the greatest Italian composers of the 17th century and one of the first women to write music. Among the most prolific composers of secular chamber music at that time, she established herself firmly in the history of music with her eight published collections of works and contributed to the creation of a new genre, the cantata.
Other information:
- The booklet contains a rich essay by the artist, Renata Dubinskaitė, also a PhD in The History and Theory of Art, detailing the career and achievements of Barbara Strozzi.
- The sung texts with English translations can be accessed at brilliantclassics.com
- This album is a homage to the Baroque singer and composer Barbara Strozzi, one of the greatest Italian composers of the seventeenth century, and one of the first women to write music. She was born in Venice, the illegitimate daughter of Giulio Strozzi, who came from a powerful noble family, and his servant Isabella Griega. She was among the most prolific composers of secular chamber music at that time, established herself firmly in the history of music with her eight published collections of works, and contributed to the creation of a new genre, the cantata. Strozzi was a woman with a unique life story. She had to fight more than most for the right to compose music, could not hope to gain an official post as a composer because of her gender, and had to go against many social norms in order to become an independent artist in a male-dominated society.
- The word sola in the title of the CD means ‘single’, ‘only’ or ‘alone’. It points to the fact that most of Strozzi’s works are written for solo voice, usually her own, which makes her music especially intimate and personal. The works presented on this new recording consist of secular cantatas, arias and sacred motets.
- After obtaining a PhD in art history and theory, Renata Dubinskaitė turned to music, and graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in opera singing in 2015. Under teachers such as María Cristina Kiehr, Barbara Bonney, Paul Eswood and others, Dubinskaitė specialises in the Baroque repertoire and other early music.
- The excellent liner notes in the booklet are written by the artist. Sung texts and translations are included.
