Thursday 21 March at 14.00 GMT on BBC radio 3
2 contraltos, 2 mezzos and a soprano
OR
Delphine Galou, Vivica Genaux and some other people
OR
The BBC’s Baroque Spring continues with …
Vivaldi’s oratorio Juditha Triumphans devicta Holofernis barbarie
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Extensive, beautiful photo collection of all performers at this concert
In the words of the BBC:
The story of Judith and her victory on the invading Holofernes was an allegory of Venice defeating the invading Turks in Corfu: the Assyrian king Nebuchadnezzar sends an army against Israel to demand overdue tributes. Under the leadership of the general Holofernes, the Assyrians lay siege to the town of Bethulia and are about to conquer it. The young Jewish widow Judith goes to him to implore mercy. He falls in love with her and she indulges him. After a rich banquet and having drunk much wine, Holofernes falls asleep. Judith beheads him, flees the enemy camp, and returns victorious to Bethulia.
BBC iPlayer time now expired
Holofernes, Assyrian General… Delphine Galou (contralto),
Juditha, a young Bethulian widow….. José Maria Lo Monaco (mezzo-soprano),
Vagaus, eunuch, Holofernes’s squire…… Vivica Genaux (mezzo-soprano),
Abra, Juditha’s handmaid….. Maria Hinojosa Montenegro (soprano),
Ozias, high priest of Bethulia….. Alessandra Visentin (contralto),
Assyrian soldiers and Bethulian women…… Capella Cracoviensis Vocal Ensemble,
Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone (harpsichord and director)
[recorded at the Misteria Paschalia Festival, Krakow in April 2012]
Based on the the Book of Judith, Vivaldi’s Judith triumphant over the barbarians of Holofernes was commissioned to celebrate the victory of the Republic of Venice over the Turks during the siege of Corfu in July 1716 and in this, his sole surviving oratorio, Vivaldi certainly rose to the occasion: the orchestra deploys an extraordinary panoply of exotica including timpani, 2 trumpets, mandolin, four theorbos, five violas all’inglese (viola da gamba), a viola d’amore, two recorders and two soprano chalumeaux, the latter depicting the chirping turtle doves.
And it is on YouTube (slightly different cast) courtesy of ilsignorbruschino1 and here is the playlist
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Ding Dong!
… the witch is dead?
No no ! Leslie Phillips 😉
Cool! A nice near-the-end-of-the-week treat.
14GMT?! at least it’s a pre-recording so i can go back to relisten
. thanks for the link Eyes!
You are very welcome!
… and at the end of the month we add further time confusion by moving to BST!!
Something to look forward and put in my collection of splendid mezzo. Great to have you caring for the ones who love that type of voice, I mean ‘me’ but thought it was rather rude to be so selfish;)) (I’ll be away on the 31st and do not remember if I could keep in touch from where I am going, no FB and YT that is for sure.