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• 22 Feb 2017

Luca Casagrande – “Se Stilicon non erra … Il Viver è un’ Ombra” Recitative and Aria of Pisone – Act II Scene II – “Alarico il Baltha, cioè l’Audace, Re de Goti” (1687) – Agostino Steffani (1654 – 1728) – COMPLETE WORLD PREMIERE.

Centaurus Music Int. Studio Recording “Agostino Steffani – Alarico il Baltha, cioè l’Audace Rè de Gothi (1687) – COMPLETE WORLDPREMIERE” – ℗ 2004
Second remastered edition Concerto Classics – ℗ 2009
© Luca Casagrande.

Luca Casagrande Baritone
Scarlatti Camera Ensemble
Artistic Direction and Production Luca Casagrande.

“Apart from the overture, the music of Alarico consists of sixty-six arias, three duets, a coro of eight bars, three brief sinfonias, and recitative.
[…] the scoring of the arias with instruments is noticeably richer than in the earlier Marco Aurelio or Servio Tullio; in this respect Alarico marks an advance in the composer’s output—one that sets a benchmark for Niobe and Henrico Leone. It also displays a very high proportion of da capo or dal segno arias, a large number of ostinatos, and an abnormal approach to tonality at the end of recitative.
Notwithstanding the emphasis on aria, Orlandi and Steffani tried to facilitate dramatic development. Recitative is seldom extensive, while arias may be brief and begin without ritornello or introduction.” (Colin Timms)
Act II SCENA II

Pisone

Se Stilicon non erra,
Qui l’Onor mio si svena; il Piede occulto
Alla Vendetta jo muovo, e qui nascosto
Attenderò, che giunga
Con la Figlia impudica
L’effeminato Augusto.

Il Viver è un’Ombra,
Se à Rai dell’Honore
Un Sol non appar.
Vil Anima ingombra
Chi tanto Splendore
Lasciò vacillar.