Kammerorchester Basel & Riccardo Minasi – Porpora: Il verbo in carne (Christmas Oratorio) (2018) [FLAC 24bit/48kHz]

Kammerorchester Basel & Riccardo Minasi – Porpora: Il verbo in carne (Christmas Oratorio) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:06:45 minutes | 708 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Sony Classical

A new album based on the work of Neapolitan composer Nicola Porpora, so rarely recorded, is an exceptional event: here is the 1747 Christmas oratorio Il Verbo in carne (“Verb in the flesh”). One of the unique aspects here is how the birth of Christ is presented philosophically and allegorically, far removed from traditional nativity oratorios’ texts that borrow almost exactly from the Bible. Instead, four virtues are introduced in turn: humanity, justice, peace, and truth. The form remains rooted in the genre’s tradition, alternating between recitatives (dry for some, accompanied by an orchestra for others), arias and choruses. As always with Porpora, each number is particularly demanding, both in terms of expressivity and vocal virtuosity, breathtaking at times! The pre-classic orchestra relies on chords, a few wind instruments (flutes, bassoons, horns, the norm at the time, but the absence of the oboe, the trumpets and the timpani for the most striking moments is worth noting; maybe they weren’t available to Porpora at the time) and of course the continuous bass. The Basel Chamber Orchestra, led by Riccardo Minasi, lays a perfect foundation for the excellent panel of singers.

Tracklist:
1. No. 1, Sinfonia avanti l’Introduzione 01:48
2. No. 5, Sinfonia avanti della prima parte 04:01
3. No. 6, Qui dal regno del tuono, e del baleno (Recitativo) 02:34
4. No. 7, Perché si breve allora (Aria) 04:21
5. No. 8, Ma che rammento! Ah! tu, Giustizia bella (Recitativo) 01:53
6. No. 9, Benché sia la prole ingrata (Aria) 07:02
7. No. 10, Mal non ti apponi: è giunto (Recitativo) 00:36
8. No. 11, Mira più in là dal Sirio mar divisa (Recitativo) 03:26
9. No. 12, Pietà di quel bel core (Aria) 08:31
10. No. 13, Non più: da’ monti cadono già l’ombre (Recitativo) 00:34
11. No. 14, Dall’Austro vieni (Aria) 00:57
12. No. 31, Sinfonia di pastorali stromenti 01:51
13. No. 34, Le avventurose arene (Recitativo) 01:04
14. No. 38, Onnipossente dio! che veggio! è quella (Recitativo) 01:04
15. No. 39, Sentir quel teneri (Aria) 04:13
16. No. 40, O dilette, fra questi (Recitativo) 01:21
17. No. 41, Lascia ch’io veda almeno (Duetto) 09:04
18. No. 49, Mentr’ei dorme ti desta (Recitativo) 01:23
19. No. 50, Impallidisci ingrato (Aria) 04:30
20. No. 51, Ma che si tarda? Alla sagace cura (Recitativo) 01:28
21. No. 52, Già il prevedo, che aduna (Recitativo & Trio) 01:56
22. No. 53 Dal mare d’Atlante (Coro) 03:08