Credits:

Cavalli (1602-1676)

Description:

Francesco Cavalli, one of the most fascinating and innovative composers of Venetian opera, sang under Monteverdi's direction in the choir of St. Mark's Basilica, became organist of the cathedral, and became a student of Claudio Monteverdi. Unlike Monteverdi's earlier operas, which were composed for court orchestra functions, Cavalli's operas were written with a small orchestra for the public opera house. Interspersed with arias of beautiful melodies and incorporating popular patterns into the libretto, Cavalli's operas are beautiful works of dramatic effect and fluidity. In terms of musical technique, the descending chromatic progression of the basses, at least in the "ostinato technique," in which certain rhythmic patterns are repeated, is often used rhetorically in scenes of lamentation and sorrow. Then there is the fluidity of the performance in song and the dramatic variety of tones that combine sublime, mythic, or tragic drama with the comedy of jokes and laughter. For this album, Jaroussky has studied some 37 of Cavalli's surviving operas, demonstrating the diversity and all the qualities of his music.It may sound modest and simple at first hearing, but it has a unique melodic and harmonic flavor to it: the first piece, "Ombra mai fu" from "Serse" has the same lyrics as the famous Handel's same piece, composed about 80 years after Cavalli, but in Cavalli's music the violin's parts are higher, packed with harmonies and constantly changing, creating a beautiful, iridescent effect. The other pieces, too, are masterpieces that are not only beautiful but also highly stimulating. Jaroussky says, "His music contains fantasy, madness, humor, and emotion, and you can see that it offers a diversity not found in 18th century opera." Warner Music Japan