La finta giardiniera was a resounding success: after the first performance 1774 in Rome, the opera was translated into several languages and staged in many other European cities and inspired Mozart to write an opera of the same title. This world premiere recording by the ensemble l’arte del mondo shows the exceptional skills of this little-known composer. Storyline Count Belfiore, in a fit of incredible jealously, has physically attacked his love, Violante. He flees, thinking that he has killed her. However, Violante has survived his attack and goes searching for him. She disguises herself as a gardener and enters with the name Sandrina into the service of Don Anchise, the Mayor of Lagonero. It is his housed that is holding the wedding of Belfiore and Arminda, the major's niece. Arminda has also had a tempestuous love affair in her past; her former lover, Ramiro, is also invited to the wedding celebrations. All are reunited and their old feelings are rekindled which puts new kinks in their plans. The new twists bring madness to all. Violante and Belfiore and then Arminda and Ramiro are reunited back into their original couples. About the artists The Spanish Catalan soprano Nuria Rial is famous for her shining, crystal clear and beautiful voice and is one of the best baroque voices for baroque arias. She was described as "a silvery sounding voice, as clear as a bell." (Opernglas) The orchestra l’arte del mondo is rooted in the Early Music tradition, but also plays on modern instruments with the same passion, performing repertoire that goes up to the Romantic period. Since it was founded, the ensemble has been invited to appear at many major festivals and concert series such as the Ludwigsburg Schlossfestspiele, the Bonn Beethoven Festival, the Schwetzingen Festival and the Sanssouci Music Festival in Potsdam. L’arte del mondo has also played at such illustrious venues as Konzerthaus Berlin, the Cité de la musique in Paris, the Düsseldorf Tonhalle, the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and Munich's Herkulessaal
J**L
A lively and delightful outing for this enjoyable classical-period opera
Pasquale Anfossi (1727-1797) is a name I had never heard of prior to the release of this recording but it's really hard not to enjoy this piece presented as it is here in such a lively performance with such excellent singers. The live recording has been nicely cleaned up. Applauses have been edited out while managing to retrain a sense of occasion and fun. Sound is transparent and well balanced. It comes with a substantial booklet and full translations. It makes a fascinating comparison with Mozart's own opera of the same name for which it shares the libretto. It's comic and colourful and none the worse for it. If you like classical operas of this period (premiered during the Rome carnival season of 1773/1774 the booklet tells us) you should certainly enjoy this. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi should certainly be applauded for bringing these unknown works into public awareness through recordings like this.Disc 1: 75'39 Disc 2: 66'52 Disc 3: 27'39Highly Recommended.
N**L
Full of energy
I love this opera, and this recording is just brimming with energy and life. Recording quality isn't as good as a studio obviously, but it certainly doesn't detract from the enjoyment.
T**N
Four Stars
Excellent recording of a wonderful, undeservedly neglected opera. Get it!
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