Description
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Contents Handel: Rinaldo Aria: Sorte amor vuol che quest’alma Aria: Ogni tua bella stilla Aria: Pregio è sol d’un alma forte Ariosti: Tito Manlio, Ouverture Lotti: Ascanio, Aria: L’incauto che non teme Gasparini: Astianatte, Aria: Vezzosetta tra questi fiori Capelli: Giulio Flavio Crispo, Aria: Piaccia agl’astri ed al senato Handel: Ottone, Re di Germania, Ouverture & Aria: Bel labro formato per farmi beato Ariosti: Cajo Marzio Coriolano, Aria: Nel tuo figlio e nel tuo sposo Bononcini, G B: Farnace, Aria: O della sorte favor instabile Hasse, J A: Astarto, Ouverture & Aria: Al fato io t’abbandono Vinci, Leonardo: Didone abbandonata, Aria: Tra lo splendor del trono Domenico Sarro: Siroe re di Persia, Aria: Gelido in ogni vena Gioavvni Antonio Giay: Demetrio, Aria: Non fidi al mar che freme Like all castrati, Gaetano Berenstadt’s hormones had gone crazy, but Berenstadtis were particularly strong. With a height of about 185 cm, he is said to have had 130 cm long legs, arms that were far too short and a corpulent belly; a field day for the caricaturists. But when he stood on the opera stage and sang, he was idolised. Berenstadt, born in Florence in 1687 and lifelong loyal to his patrons, the Medici, at the same time Grand Dukes of Tuscany, experienced his artistic career in the first third of the 18th century. He sang at all the important opera houses in Italy and for some years in London. The most famous composers of his time such as Ariosti, Bononcini, Gasparini, Hasse, Sarro and Vinci appreciated him for his vocal and acting abilities. Handel in particular was a great admirer of Berenstadt; in addition to several roles in world premieres, he even wrote new arias for him for the London revival of “Rinaldo” in 1717. Filippo Mineccia, also from Florence and one of the leading countertenors of our day, follows in the musical footsteps of his Florentine predecessor and draws an impressive portrait of Berenstadt’s career on this recording. |
