ANTONIO VIVALDI

 

Amor Sacro

 

In furore iustissimae irae RV 626

[1] Aria (Allegro): In furore iustissimae irae

[2] Recitativo: Miserationum Pater piissime

[3] Aria (Largo): Tunc meus fletus

[4] Allegro: Alleluia

 

Nulla in mundo pax sincera RV 630

[5] Aria (Larghetto): Nulla in mundo pax sincera

[6] Recitativo: Blando colore oculos mundus decepit

[7] Aria (Allegro): Spirat anguis

[8] Allegro: Alleluia

 

In turbato mare irato RV 627

[9] Aria (Allegro): In turbato mare irato

[10] Recitativo: Splende serena, o lux amata

[11] Aria (Larghetto): Resplende, bella

[12] Allegro: Alleluia

 

Sum in medio tempestatum RV 632

[13] Aria (Allegro non molto): Sum in medio tempestatum

[14] Recitativo: Quid ergo faciam, infelix anima?

[15] Aria (Largo): Semper maesta, sconsolata

[16] Allegro: Alleluia

 

Simone Kermes

Venice Baroque Orchestra

Andrea Marcon

 

Andrea Marcon and his VBO team up with the 'Queen of Baroque' Simone Kermes for a divine album of Vivaldi motets.

 

These Vivaldi motets are on par with the composer's popular Four Seasons - highly entertaining, emotional and energetic music. Amor Sacro are pieces for soprano and strings: highly virtuosic songs of breakneck tempi that alternate with tender, touching, slow arias, something like concertos for voice that feature exhibitionistic solo parts requiring extraordinary technical versatility. Tartini is rumoured to have said that Vivaldi wrote for voice in the same way that he wrote for strings, even though he should have known that 'a throat is not a violin neck'.

 

The German soprano Simone Kermes delivers these vocal pyrotechnics ranging from melodic and melancholic to fiery and passionate. The 'Queen of Baroque' (Opera News) is neither unknown to the press ('Terrific... like Meryl Streep with a golden soprano voice and dazzling coloratura' - Opernwelt) nor a stranger on the Yellow Label, as Kermes sang the lead roles in the recently released and highly acclaimed Baroque operas Andromeda liberata (also with VBO) and Händel's Rodelinda directed by Alan Curtis ('Simone Kermes is just staggering' -Gramophone).

 

After their successful collaborations with star violinist Giuliano Carmignola, Andrea Marcon and his Venice Baroque Orchestra team up with one of the most charismatic and virtuosic sopranos performing today - one who matches the sky-high artistic standards that made them one of the foremost Baroque ensembles worldwide. This recording has all ingredients to be a favourite for critics and a bestseller for audiences.

 

The title Amor Sacro derives from the sacred, non-liturgical repertoire that was performed in moments of relative silence during Mass or Vespers. There will be a follow-up project with Kermes and VBO under the title Amor profano with a selection of Vivaldi's opera arias for soprano.

 

DG 4775980