Porno Amatoriali Italiani

I Solisti Italiani is a chamber string orchestra consisting of about 12 players, known particularly for their spirited readings of works from the Baroque and Classical periods. They have performed and recorded much Vivaldi over the years and have devoted nearly as much effort to the works of Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Rossini…

Two of today’s most brilliant tenors, Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee, strike sparks off each other as they celebrate the star tenors of Rossini’s time, such as Andrea Nozzari, Giovanni David, and Manuel García. Amici e Rivali – ‘Friends and Rivals’ – comprises arias, duets and trios from seven of the composer’s operas, including the ever-popular Il barbiere di Siviglia and the rarely heard Ricciardo e Zoraide. The ‘duelling tenors’ are joined by the effervescent Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught, the prize-winning young Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga, I Virtuosi Italiani and conductor Corrado Rovaris.

Altogether a pleasure. These are bright, capable, affectionate, well-pointed performances in good sound, with soloists who sound totally at home with the music…

A dazzling display of vocal virtuosity, by the stunning coloratura soprano Maria Laura Martorana. Nicola Porpora was a celebrated vocal teacher, as well as a highly respected composer, of mainly vocal works (operas, cantatas). Among his pupils were Haydn, Alessandro Scarlatti and Pergolesi. His profound knowledge of the voice and its possibilities resulted in compositions of the highest challenge to the performer. The title 'Il Volcano', one of the Cantatas recorded on this disc, gives a clear indication as to the explosive content of the music - and Maria Laura Martorana possesses all the qualities required for an effective performance of this music: effortless and brilliant vocal technique, capable of the most daunting vocal acrobatics, and a passionate and dramatic temper, conveying the strong emotions expressed in these Baroque Cantatas.

Giulio Briccialdi (1818-1881) was from an early aged destined to became what he was universally called “The Prince of the Flute”. He started his career as flutist and composer by playing in the intervals of opera productions throughout Italy, later he spread his wings and was active in several European capitals like Vienna, Budapest, Munich and London, a celebrated virtuoso mixing with the most important musical figures of his time.

Both these works are unashamedly Romantic and nostalgic in style. The E minor Piano Concerto was composed in 1960, at the same time as Rota's music for Fellini's film La dolce vita. As if in answer to the extreme cynicism of that and much of his other film music, the concerto seems to be a questioning exploration of the remaining possibilities in a modern, Romantic form. The opening Allegro-tranquillo movement begins with a dreamlike theme on the piano which is then taken up by the orchestra and developed as a sort of conversation – the orchestra insisting on a heroic, almost martial sound, while the piano and woodwind reiterate the original soft mood.