With Siface: l’amor castrato, countertenor Filippo Mineccia, together with Javier Ulises Illán and Nereydas, presents a short imaginary pasticcio
opera reflecting the music-making and life of the contralto castrato
known by that stage name. Born Giovanni Francesco Grossi in 1653 in the
Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Siface was acclaimed for his exciting musical
performances, yet who became famous also for the tragedy of his love
life. He was called upon to sing in operas and oratorios by the likes of
Stradella, Pasquini, Bassani, Pallavicino and Agostini. For a long time
in the service of Francesco II d’Este in Modena, Siface was an active member of the musical “ducal circuit” in the Italian peninsula, even, on
one occasion, additionally being sent to England, where he performed
before monarchy, and met and impressed Henry Purcell.
Filippo
Mineccia brilliantly captures the kaleidoscopic rush of emotions
coursing through this selection of arias, which reflects the torrid and
spectacular musical pace of life in late seventeenth-century Italy (as
well as mirroring Siface’s own downfall on the road from Ferrara to
Bologna).
The Spanish ensemble Nereydas fully enter
into the spirit of this, by turns, colourful, heartfelt, poignant and
vivid celebration of vocal and instrumental music, which also features
works by Alessandro Scarlatti (the emotive lullaby Dormi o fulmine), Francesco Cavalli and Purcell (My song shall be alway). Elena Bernardi puts flesh on still little understood aspects of the early stages of opera in the late Seicento. (Glossa)
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