BMG Classics on their
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi label have released
a fine CD of six cantatas by the Sicilian
Alessandro Scarlatti. It seems that
the cantatas have been previously released
in 1998 on the Conifer label.
By the eighteenth century,
Palermo-born Alessandro Scarlatti was
the most widely performed Italian composer
of vocal music having written more than
sixty operas and well over a hundred
cantatas. The cantata, more concentrated
than opera, was considered at that time
as the higher artistic form. Scarlatti
was extremely prolific and many of his
works including cantatas still remain
unrecorded.
With a Papal ban on
public opera, Alessandro Scarlatti found
an outlet for his talents in composing
oratorios and in writing cantatas for
Roman patrons, notably Prince Ruspoli
and the Cardinals Ottoboni and Pamphili.
In 1706 Scarlatti, together with fellow
composers and instrumentalists Pasquini
and Corelli, was elected to the Accademia
dell’Arcadia founded in Rome in 1690.
This prestigious Society was a collection
of artists, musicians, and writers dedicated
to the reform of Italian culture.
The award-winning American-based
chamber ensemble the Arcadian Academy
was founded and directed by Nicholas
McGegan who plays the organ and harpsichord
on this release. The period instrument
ensemble Arcadian Academy take their
name and inspiration from the original
Roman society and comprise members of
the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra from
San Francisco.
These are delectable
cantatas and world-famous counter-tenor
David Daniels is at his glorious best
with impeccable intonation and immaculate
enunciation. Daniels is superb in the
Cantata Il rosignolo (the Nightingdale)
from 1698 which is the plainest
work here in terms of scoring and structure.
In fact the voice is accompanied only
by the basso continuo. The closing
aria Col tuo mesto mormorio (Sweet
stream, with your sad murmuring)
is particularly memorably performed
with drama and considerable feeling
. Another favourite is the opening cantata
Ombre tacite e sole (Silent
and solitary shadows) from
1716 which calls for two violins, viola
and basso continuo and is the
most fully scored work in this collection.
The work’s concluding aria Allor
d‘intorno a te (Then my faithful
soul) with the violins playing
flawlessly in unison is exceptionally
well performed. Daniels at his finest
offers austere and passionate intensity
singing his aria about love’s
painful betrayal and deceit.
The admirable performers
of the Arcadian Academy under the expert
direction of Nicholas McGegan play with
a sense of freshness and sensitivity.
The engineers are to be complimented
for the high quality sound on this well
presented release.
Intense and concentrated
scores that will undoubtedly bring much
pleasure. Counter-tenor David Daniels
is a true master!
Michael Cookson
Early
Music
David Daniels (counter-tenor) 
