Nicolas Achten – Il Pianto d’Orfeo – The Birth of Opera (2014) [FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

This album retraces the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, comparing and contrasting different interpretations by major composers of the 16th century, including Monteverdi, Rossi and Caccini. Baritone, harpsichordist, lutenist, harpist and artistic director, Nicolas Achten is the rising figure in the world of early music. He is one of the few classical singers to accompany himself on various instruments, reviving this historical practice. Born in Brussels in 1985, he studied singing, lute, harpsichord and triple harp at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and the Hague, and completed his training at various masterclasses, including the Académie baroque d’Ambronay and the Centre de la Voix de Royaumont.

“The seamless narrative is organised into six subsections that follow the plot of the myth, connected together by instrumental pieces such as warmly played sinfonias by Rossi and music by Cavalieri…this captivating experience is enriched by Deborah York’s five contributions” (Gramophone)

Tracklist

01. L’Orfeo: Sinfonia
02. Curtio precipitato et altri capricii, Libro secondo: “Folle è ben che si crede”
03. La Pellegrina: Aria di Fiorenza
04. L’Euridice: “Antri ch’à miei lamenti”
05. L’Orfeo: “All’imperio d’Amore”
06. L’Orfeo: “Rosa del ciel”
07. L’Orfeo: “Mio ben, teco il tormento”
08. L’Orfeo: “Vi ricorda, o boschi ombrosi”
09. Intavolatura Di Liuto Et Di Chitarrone, Libro Primo: Toccata XIII
10. L’Orfeo: “Tu se’ morta”
11. Le Nuove Musiche: Aria di romanesca
12. Caccini-L’Euridice: “Non piango, e non sospiro”
13. Peri-L’Euridice: “Non piango, e non sospiro”
14. Le Nuove Musiche: Aria di romanesca
15. Le Nuove Musiche: Movetevi à pietà
16. L’Euridice: “Funeste piagge”
17. Il primo libro di Canzone, Sinfonie, Fantasie, Capricci, Brandi, Correnti, Gagliarde, Alemanne, Volte: La suave melodia
18. L’Euridice: “Funeste piagge”
19. L’Orfeo: “Orfeo, tu dormi?”
20. L’Orfeo: “Se desti pietà”
21. L’Orfeo: “Possente spirto”
22. L’Orfeo: Sinfonia
23. L’Orfeo: “Ahi vista troppo dolce”
24. Les pleurs d’Orphée aillant perdu sa femme
25. Il libro quinto d’arie: “Muove Orfeo l’empia Dite”
26. L’Orfeo: “Lasciate Averno”