Vivaldi's vocal music

[Coopmv]

Also for reference Mozart died age 35, time of  active composing was @ 27 years, and his K catalog lists 626 works.

That would require almost the same rate of compostion as Vivaldi, so in those days 20-30 works a year seems to be possible
for very skilled and inspired composer

How about Telemann, who lived to be 86 and composed 3000 works?

[DarkAngel]

 
How about Telemann, who lived to be 86 and composed 3000 works?

Interesting..............although most of those 3000 works are lost so we are going on some assumptions here, Guiness Book seems to give him the honor of most prolific composer.

If we assume @ 70 active years of composing that would be 40-45 works a year,
of course in all cases the complexity/size of works should be considered as well as quantity since large number of sonatas or short cantatas could skew the impressions of total body of work

[Coopmv]

Interesting..............although most of those 3000 works are lost so we are going on some assumptions here, Guiness Book seems to give him the honor of most prolific composer.

If we assume @ 70 active years of composing that would be 40-45 works a year,
of course in all cases the complexity/size of works should be considered as well as quantity since large number of sonatas or short cantatas could skew the impressions of total body of work

Handel was supposed to have composed the Messiah Oratorio in 2 weeks ...

[DarkAngel]

Yes all these prolific composers didn't re-invent the wheel with every new work, once they became experienced
they could expand upon previous work or used reworked sections in new work, nothing wrong with that 

That would explain why Messiah could be composed in 2 weeks.........

[Coopmv]

Yes all these prolific composers didn't re-invent the wheel with every new work, once they became experienced
they could expand upon previous work or used reworked sections in new work, nothing wrong with that 

That would explain why Messiah could be composed in 2 weeks.........

Even aside from often liberally borrowing from his own previous works, the work Messiah still showcased the kind of musical genius Handel was ...

[Elgarian]

My Vivaldi purchases from the PrestoClassical 20%-off sale have arrived, and I've been listening to the first CD of this one. I'm not too sure about it really. Almost every aria seems to be required to be sung at breakneck speed with a considerable degree of hysteria - which is exciting for a while, but after an hour of this (albeit with quieter recitative interludes) it starts to get a bit much. Each aria is in itself wonderfully executed as far as I can see; but there's very little respite from the hard-driving Vivaldi fizz. I find myself longing for something really gentle, but I suspect, after one CD of power-driven frenzy, that it's going to go on much the same for the other two.

[Coopmv]

My Vivaldi purchases from the PrestoClassical 20%-off sale have arrived, and I've been listening to the first CD of this one. I'm not too sure about it really. Almost every aria seems to be required to be sung at breakneck speed with a considerable degree of hysteria - which is exciting for a while, but after an hour of this (albeit with quieter recitative interludes) it starts to get a bit much. Each aria is in itself wonderfully executed as far as I can see; but there's very little respite from the hard-driving Vivaldi fizz. I find myself longing for something really gentle, but I suspect, after one CD of power-driven frenzy, that it's going to go on much the same for the other two.

Sounds like a disappointment to me ...

[DarkAngel]

My Vivaldi purchases from the PrestoClassical 20%-off sale have arrived, and I've been listening to the first CD of this one. I'm not too sure about it really. Almost every aria seems to be required to be sung at breakneck speed with a considerable degree of hysteria - which is exciting for a while, but after an hour of this (albeit with quieter recitative interludes) it starts to get a bit much. Each aria is in itself wonderfully executed as far as I can see; but there's very little respite from the hard-driving Vivaldi fizz. I find myself longing for something really gentle, but I suspect, after one CD of power-driven frenzy, that it's going to go on much the same for the other two.

When in Rome do as the Romans do...............

The highly dramatic and vibrant style of Vivaldi opera arias are wonderfully presented on all the Naive opera sets, I own every one now and love them, if you seek relaxed or gentle arias you are looking in the wrong place, these are for the vocal thrill seekers 

These are meant to be vocal showcases for the very best castrati and prima donnas, tremendously challenging for todays vocalists to recreate, the decapo aria style used was was meant as a showcase for dazzling ornamentation in the repeat.

[Anne]

Has anyone heard the video with Marilyn Horne singing Orlando Furioso?

[Elgarian]

if you seek relaxed or gentle arias you are looking in the wrong place, these are for the vocal thrill seekers 

The thing is this: I love my 11CD King's Consort set of Vivaldi's sacred music, and I didn't have these reservations about Juditha Triumphans; so these incessant firework displays in Orlando come as quite a shock. It's maybe too soon to tell, but I begin to think that my Vivaldi vocal explorations are going to come to a pretty sharp stop.

[The new erato]

The thing is this: I love my 11CD King's Consort set of Vivaldi's sacred music, and I didn't have these reservations about Juditha Triumphans; so these incessant firework displays in Orlando come as quite a shock.

Griselda isn't like that; just heard it twice. Vivaldi is virtuosic, but I think one's reaction has as much to do with the singer as the work. I hate Bartoli's Vivaldi disc for the same reason you cite, it is so tiresome that it makes me think of early retirement from Vivaldi.

[Wanderer]

Almost every aria seems to be required to be sung at breakneck speed with a considerable degree of hysteria - which is exciting for a while, but after an hour of this (albeit with quieter recitative interludes) it starts to get a bit much. Each aria is in itself wonderfully executed as far as I can see; but there's very little respite from the hard-driving Vivaldi fizz. I find myself longing for something really gentle, but I suspect, after one CD of power-driven frenzy, that it's going to go on much the same for the other two.

Why would you think a work called Orlando furioso would be calm and gentle? Fury is right there in the title. If you're weary of Vivaldi's relentless storms, just try another opera (e.g. Griselda or La fida ninfa); unless you're expecting to hear some sort of Italian Händel, I believe you won't be disappointed.

[DarkAngel]

Griselda isn't like that; just heard it twice. Vivaldi is virtuosic, but I think one's reaction has as much to do with the singer as the work. I hate Bartoli's Vivaldi disc for the same reason you cite, it is so tiresome that it makes me think of early retirement from Vivaldi.

I also don't like Bartoli's Vivaldi singing style, she has this annoying repetitive stuttering ornamantation that sounds like a weak car battery trying to start an engine.

There is some degree of dramatic intensity variation among Vivaldi operas depending on the conductor/vocalists used, but in general I can safely say they are going to be more intense and dramatic aria style than Handel's Italian operas for instance.......and I am huge fan of both, but for vocal thrills I turn to Vivaldi. The young Italian conductors used by Naive encourage vocalist to be inventive and freely ornament arias, often with dazzling results.

The Biondi/Virgin Bazajet comes with great bonus DVD showing recording sessions, very informative to see vocalists push themselves to thier limit and take full flight

[Elgarian]

I hate Bartoli's Vivaldi disc for the same reason you cite, it is so tiresome that it makes me think of early retirement from Vivaldi.

This is encouraging. Thanks. I have La Fida Ninfa and L'Olimpiade lined up after this, and perhaps I'll do better with them.

[DarkAngel]

This is encouraging. Thanks. I have La Fida Ninfa and L'Olimpiade lined up after this, and perhaps I'll do better with them.

I have to admire Elgarians relentless (and wallet draining) pursuit of baroque vocal treasure, onward and upward! 

[Coopmv]

Has anyone heard the video with Marilyn Horne singing Orlando Furioso?

Was Claudio Scimone the conductor?

[Elgarian]

I have to admire Elgarians relentless (and wallet draining) pursuit of baroque vocal treasure, onward and upward!

Relentless indeed, though my persistence is based on an extended run of really quite wonderful experiences. My explorations of the whole baroque period (including all the Vivaldi sacred music, which I think is superb) have been incredibly rewarding as you know, DA, and disappointment has been rare. I bought these three Vivaldi operas in the light of that (taking advantage of the sale prices). So I'm not likely to let just one dodgy experience put me off. Of course if I continue to experience excessive Vivaldi fizz when I listen to La Fida Ninfa and L'Olimpiade (and from what you said earlier, I'm now aware that there's some possibility of that), then that would be another matter.

[Wendell_E]

Has anyone heard the video with Marilyn Horne singing Orlando Furioso?

Was Claudio Scimone the conductor?

No, it was Randall Behr.  I rented it from Netflix back in April.  I liked it a lot.

[Wanderer]

The Biondi/Virgin Bazajet comes with great bonus DVD showing recording sessions, very informative to see vocalists push themselves to thier limit and take full flight

My copy doesn't have the bonus DVD; a highly recommended recording, regardless. 

[DarkAngel]

Wanderer
it is a shame your copy does not have the background DVD, some clips have made it to youtube.
Watch this video to see Vivaldi come to life and enjoy seeing a vocalist take flight and go where eagles dare

What really is a great selling point is the bonus DVD showing arias performed during recording sessions by the vocalists.
Very interesting to see orchestra layout and instruments used, Biondi plays violin standing up leading orchestra next to vocalist.
Each singer has unique personality that shows through while singing, some are very animated even during recording session like
Marijana Mijanovic......others more controlled physically. Also like to see facial expressions when singing, they should have bonus DVD with all new opera sets.......great idea! (naive are you listening)

You Tube has the Mijanovic aria:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-j8ZQoTgvg