W. A. MOZART

 

La Clemenza di Tito

 

Mark Padmore (Tito); Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Vitellia); Bernarda Fink (Sesto); Marie-Claude Chappuis (Annio); Sunhae Im (Servilia); Sergio Foresti (Publio);

 

RIAS Kammerchor, Freiburger Barockorchester/ René Jacobs

 

The interpretation offered here of La Clemenza di Tito by René Jacobs is nothing short of revolutionary. Not only does it rehabilitate the original score in its entirety, it also restores the powerfully classical inspiration so essential to opera seria. Mozart's autograph contains no simple recitatives; but they are to be found in the performing parts prepared for the singers at the premiere (now in the Lobkowitz Archives in Prague). Just one recitative, for Publius, bears traces of a correction in Mozart's hand, to achieve a smoother lead-in to the aria which follows. As if by magic, La clemenza suddenly springs to new and exciting life...

 

The year 2004 was marked by a new series of triumphs for René Jacobs in the international press: his recording of Handel's Rinaldo [HMC901796-98] received a Cannes Classical Award; in the UK, The Gramophone voted his version of Le nozze di Figaro Record of the Year [HMC901818-20]; in France Le Monde de la Musique awarded the same recording a 'Choc' of the year while Haydn's The Seasons received a Diapason d'Or; in Germany the press honoured him with a Deutscher Schallplattenpreis. In 2005, René Jacobs was chosen as Artist of the Year by MIDEM and his recording of Le nozze di Figaro distinguished by two MIDEM Classical Awards. A few weeks later the same recording won a Grammy award in Los Angeles (Best Opera 2005). Handel's Saul [HMC901877-78] has been shortlisted in BBC Music Magazine's newly created Awards. Released in September 2005, Saul was BBC Music Magazine's Disc of the Month, an Editor's Choice in The Gramophone and Classical CD of the Week in The Sunday Times.

 

Harmonia Mundi 2SACDs HMC801923-24