Orquestra Divino Sospiro l "L'Isola Disabitata - Serenata per musica" Concert
June 25, at 18h00, Auditorium CGD | ISEG
Sopranos : Joana Seara, Francesca Aspromonte, Francesco Divito
Tenor: Bruno Almeida
Musical direction: Massimo Mazzeo
The modern world premiere of the complete Serenade composed in 1767 by David Perez, with libretto by Pietro Metastasio will take place at the National Palace of Queluz,6pm, June 26, 2015.
The 18th century was one of the most important periods in the history of Portuguese music, with a strong investment by the royal power in production and performance, through strategies that included the importation of musicians and repertoire, as well as the training of performers and composers. The Court often came to the Palace of Queluz to attend serenades, cavalcades and fire shows. Music always played a central role in these festivities, especially between 1752 and 1786. Before and after the construction of the Opera House in 1778, dozens of serenades and operas were played there.
The Serenade, in concert version, will be performed by the Divino Sospiro orchestra, with musical direction by Massimo Mazzeo, and will also feature sopranos Joana Seara, Francesca Aspromonte and Francesco Divito and tenor Bruno Almeida.
This Serenade was written to be performed at the Palace of Queluz, residence of Prince Pedro and the future Queen Maria I, privileged pupils of David Perez, who established a close connection with him. The closeness between the Portuguese royal couple and the Neapolitan composer is demonstrated by his presence on the canvas painted on the ceiling of the Ambassadors' Room in the National Palace of Queluz.
David Perez was one of the most important composers in the European musical scene of the second half of the 18th century. "Composer of the Royal Chamber and Master of His Royal Highnesses" from 1752 to 1778, he directed the musical life of the Portuguese Court until his death. His output influenced most Portuguese composers. Many, such as João Cordeiro da Silva, João de Sousa Carvalho and Luciano Xavier dos Santos, were his direct disciples.
The libretto for this Serenade was written in 1752 by the greatest poet for music of the 18th century, Pietro Metastasio. Several composers have used this text with great success. In addition to the quasi-realistic plot, the narration deals with distant sea voyages to the West Indies, which must have aroused considerable interest at the time, particularly among Portuguese audiences.
Only two manuscript scores remain of this work. One is in the library of the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda and bears the following note in Italian: " ...to be presented in the Royal Town of Queluz in the year 1767" which is also in the printed libretto kept in the National Library of Portugal; the other is in the Library of the Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella in Naples.
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JOANA SEARA- Soprano
Soprano Joana Seara, who has played numerous roles in opera from Monteverdi to Puccini, from Verdi to Francisco António de Almeyda, will play the character of Constanza.
www. joanaseara-soprano.com
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FRANCESCA ASPROMONTE- Soprano
Soprano Francesca Aspromonte, who has performed at venues such as the Opéra Royal de Versailles, the Opéra de Vichy, the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, the Bozar de Bruxelles, the Opéra National de Montpellier, and appeared at renowned festivals such as Ambronay Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival or Musikfest Bremen, will play the character of Silvia.
https://www.facebook.com/francescaaspromontesoprano
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FRANCESCO DIVITO- Soprano
Soprano Francesco Divito, an extraordinary case in that he has never undergone any voice changes (he has a natural soprano voice, with the power of male lungs), will play the character of Enrico.
http://www.tp4.rub.de/~ak/disc/fd/CV_francesco_divito.html
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