Fede E Amor

The Viennese Court Kapellmeister Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741) is regarded in music history as the forefather of modern counterpoint, and his instructional work ""Gradus ad parnassum"" continues to influence education in this subject to the present day. But the many compositions Fux wrote for the Viennese court are largely forgotten. If at all, one still knows of sacred compositions in which Fux followed this strict, academic style. On the other hand, the composer was able to free himself from this in his opera and in his ""Componimenti sacri"", which are operatic oratorios for Holy Week (during which no operas were allowed to be performed).

Amor profano is the follow-up project to the spectacular album Amor sacro that the soprano Simone Kermes recorded with Andrea Marcon and his Venice Baroque Orchestra. Amor sacro received rave critical reviews, with The San Francisco Chronicle hailing, "soprano Simone Kermes leads the way in this choice performance of four sacred motets by Vivaldi…another exemplary Vivaldi excavation" and the Star Ledger proclaiming, "Kermes brings Vivaldi's heart-easing lyricism alive with far richer expressivity…Kermes looks to be a real vocal star."

With Siface: l’amor castrato, countertenor Filippo Mineccia, together with Javier Ulises Illán and Nereydas, presents a short imaginary pasticcio opera reflecting the music-making and life of the contralto castrato known by that stage name. Born Giovanni Francesco Grossi in 1653 in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Siface was acclaimed for his exciting musical performances, yet who became famous also for the tragedy of his love life. He was called upon to sing in operas and oratorios by the likes of Stradella, Pasquini, Bassani, Pallavicino and Agostini. For a long time in the service of Francesco II d’Este in Modena, Siface was an active member of the musical “ducal circuit” in the Italian peninsula, even, on one occasion, additionally being sent to England, where he performed before monarchy, and met and impressed Henry Purcell.

Mozart 250th Anniversary Edition: Operas I by Daniel Barenboim was released Jan 01, 2010 on the Warner Classics label. Mozart 250th Anniversary Edition: Operas I is a 9-disc set.