Meyer Les Traversees Baroques - Il Trionfo Della Morte - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Studies in Rome equipped Francisco António de Almeida for high musical standing at the court of the Portuguese King, João V. Here he wrote a series of admired operas but also embarked on serenades', court spectacles of a more private nature. Il Trionfo d'Amore, a scherzo pastoral, was written to celebrate the King's name-day. Ranging from intimacy to ceremonial splendor, with several sublime arias, not least the beautiful In queste lacrime, as well as dramatic passages, it reveals de Almeida to be one of the outstanding Portuguese composers of the eighteenth century. Album Tracks 1. Sinfonia Allegro 2. Sinfonia Andante 3. Sinfonia Allegro Staccato 4. Numi Eccelsi, in Si Bel Giorno 5. Si Sospendan Le Vittime E Gl'incensi 6. Bel Piacer Ch'e la Vendetta 7. Da Qual Insania Trasportato Arsindo 8. Si Cinga Il Perfido 9. Padre Eterno Signor 10. A Smorzar Una Favilla 11. Nerina, Diro Mia 12. Pallidetta Rosa E Smorta 13. O Dolcissime Voci 14. Se Bene Il Gelo Indura L'onda 15. Per Lo Strano Accidente 16. Da Due Venti Combattuto Arboscel 17. Drizzate Ormai Gli Altari Per L'uman Sacrificio 18. Se M'abbandoni Dolce Mia Speme 1. Bendate a Arsindo I Lumi Ministri 2. Ove Mi Conducesti, Perfido Ingrato Amore 3. Non Accusare Amore 4. Divinita Del Cielo 5. Forsennata, Ove Corri 6. Oh Sfortunati Amanti 7. Orride E Dispietate Furie 8. Mi Morre in Sen la Speme 9. Leggiadra Ninfa 10. Amabile Nerina, la Tua Pieta Mi Pesa 11. In Queste Lacrime, Arsindo Specchiasti 12. Bella Termosia 13. Ecco Bell'idol Mio 14. Ma Di Quale Divino E Profetico Lume 15. Se la Mente Offusca E Ingombra 16. Eterni Numi, Oh Quanto Son Diversi Dagli Umani Disegni 17. Dopo Lacrime Tante 18. Ma Perche Sia Perfetto 19. All'alto Trono Del Dio Di Gnido 20. Quel Siano de Ciel L'alti Decreti 21. A Te la Gloria a Te Il Trionfo

The present album features vocal chamber music as well as sacred music for solo voices by Giacomo Meyerbeer. Born near Berlin in the year of Mozart's death into a family with cultured interests, Meyerbeer was a pupil of Abt Vogler and near contemporary of his fellow pupil Weber. He made his career in Paris, where he became the most important composer of French grand opera. But he still retained wide cosmopolitan connections, in particular serving as Generalmusikdirektor from 1842 under King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia, in whose service he continued after a resignation from his original position in 1848. Meyerbeer was a man of independent means, which enabled him to exercise considerable care over the composition of operas and the choice of appropriate singers, and some control over the press. Although most remembered for opera, this album proves that his vocal compositions deserve equal esteem.

Album Tracks 1. Counter Block 2. Mean What You Say 3. Ode Too Joe Newman 4. Winners 5. Love Handles 6. Basic-Ally Yours 7. Victorious Blues 8. Now That She's Away 9. The Biddle-De-Bop Samba 10. Lady in Lace 11. A Fresh Taste of the Blues