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Vivaldi: Ottone In Villa / Antonini, Prina, Invernizzi, Lehtipuu, Cangemi

Vivaldi / Prina / Il Giardino Armonico / Antonini
Release Date: 01/25/2011 
Label:  Naive   Catalog #: 30493  
Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Topi Lehtipuu,  Veronica Cangemi,  Sonia Prina,  Julia Lezhneva,   ... 
Conductor:  Giovanni Antonini
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Il Giardino Armonico
Number of Discs: 2 
Recorded in: Stereo 
In Stock: Usually ships in 24 hours.  

Notes and Editorial Reviews


This was Vivaldi's first opera; it appeared in 1713. (He wrote 93 others.) There are now four available recordings: this one; one on Brilliant Classics (they do not send review copies to me and I have not heard it); a fine one under Richard Hickox on Chandos; and a lethargic one on Bongiovanni (it takes a half hour longer than the others due to incredibly slow recits and generally pokey aria tempos). It is not a ground-breaking work but it contains a string of fine arias, some quite brilliant, and an involving plot that is entertaining if you choose to follow it.

Cleonilla has won the hearts of both Caio and the Emperor Ottone, but she loves her page, Ostilio, who is really the angry Read more Tullia, Ottone's rejected love in male attire. Decio is a character who advises Ottone on matters of state, but to no avail. After far too many misunderstandings to describe here, Tullia comes clean and Ottone orders her to marry Caio. One assumes that Cleonilla continues her pursuit of Ottone, having gotten away with plenty of nasty manipulation of various combinations of lovers. Yes, the piece is a comedy, showing the emperor (the same Ottone who appears in both Monteverdi's Poppea and Handel's Agrippina) "in Villa", that is, in the countryside, on vacation--but it is a somewhat tart comedy.

This is a lively reading under Giovanni Antonini, who leads the period group Il Giardino Armonico through on-the-mark, conversational recits and flowing arias, delivered in real time and with plenty of dramatic emphasis by the soloists. There is a preponderance of high voices here; only Decio is a tenor, and Topi Lehtipuu does what he can with the only thankless role. As Caio, a role composed for castrato, soprano Julia Lezhneva, 22 at the time of this recording, seems to be a finished artist, with agility, stunning tone, and a dramatic flair.

Roberta Invernizzi's Tullia is similarly well sung, and we get the feeling that she knows how wicked--and enraged--her character is. There's a fine aria in the second act--"L'ombre, l'aure, e ancora il rio"--in which Caio laments his misery and an off-stage Tullia echoes the music of his final phrases but mocks his feelings. Ottone, composed for female contralto, is offered here with instantly recognizable dark tone by Sonia Prina; he is a character enamored of his power and unable to see what is really going on around him. Soprano Veronica Cangemi's Cleonilla is gorgeously sung but has an interpretive bite perfectly apt for this double-dealing lady. This work, and this recording, is highly recommended, with Hickox's a good second choice.

--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1. Ottone in Villa, RV 729 by Antonio Vivaldi
Performer:  Topi Lehtipuu (Tenor), Veronica Cangemi (Soprano), Sonia Prina (Alto),
Julia Lezhneva (Soprano), Roberta Invernizzi (Soprano)
Conductor:  Giovanni Antonini
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Il Giardino Armonico
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1713; Venice, Italy 

Sound Samples

Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Sinfonia: Allegro
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Sinfonia: Larghetto
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Sinfonia: Allegro
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Nacqui a gran sorte ... (I was born to greatness ... ) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 1: Aria: Quanto m'alletta (How alluring) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Caio ... (Caio ... ) (Cleonilla, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 2: Aria: Sole degl'occhi miei (Light of my eyes) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Ma Cesare qui vien ... (But here comes Caesar ... ) (Caio, Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Cleonilla, a te ne vengo ... (Cleonilla, I come to you ... ) (Ottone, Cleonilla, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 3: Aria: Caro bene (Beloved) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Piu fido amante, e chi miro giammai? ... (Has there ever been a truer lover? ... ) (Ottone, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 4: Aria: Par tormento, ed e piacer (It seems a torment yet is a pleasure) (Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 5: Recitative: Quanto di donna amante ... (Just how cunnning a mistress can be ... ) (Caio, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 5: Aria: Chi seguir vuol la costanza (He who insists on being constant) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Ah! Traditor t'intendo ... (Ah! Traitor, I know what's in your mind ... ) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 6: Aria: Con l'amor di donna amante (My love, being that of a loving woman) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 7: Recitative: Quanto m'alletti, o cara ... (How I love, my dearest ... ) (Ottone, Cleonilla, Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 7: Aria: Frema pur, si lagni Roma (Let Rome fret and fume) (Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 8: Recitative: Grande ho, Decio, il desio ... (I am extremely curious to know, Decio ... ) (Cleonilla, Decio, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 8: Aria: Il tuo pensiero e lusinghiero (You are living in a fool's paradise) (Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 9: Recitative: Porgimi il manto, caro ... (Hand me my robe, dear boy ... ) (Cleonilla, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 9: Aria: Che fe, che amor (I swear that faith, that love) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 10: Recitative: E Caio aborriro per fin ch'io viva? ... (Hold Caio in abhorrence for as long as I live? ... ) (Caio, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 10: Aria: Si, si, deggio partir (Yes, yes, I must be off) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 11: Recitative: E Caio aborriro per fin ch'io viva? ... (Hold Caio in abhorrence for as long as I live? ... ) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act I Scene 11: Aria: Gelosia (Jealousy) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Spinto Signor son' io ... (I am urged, my lord ... ) (Decio, Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 1: Aria: Come l'onda (Like a wave) (Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 2: Recitative: A Cesare tradito io dir non volli ... (I decided not to tell the deceived Caesar ... ) (Deccio, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 2: Aria: Che giova it trono al Re (What good is his throne to a king) (Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Parli Decio che vuol ... (Decio can say what he likes ... ) (Caio, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 3: Aria: L'ombre, l'aure, e ancora il rio (The shadows, the breezes, and even the stream) (Caio, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Qual duolo, o Caio, frenetico ti rende? ... (What grief, O Caio, has provoked this frenzy? ... ) (Tullia, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 4: Aria: Su gl'occhi del tuo ben (To your beloved) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Disperato e l'infido ... (The deceiver is desperate ... ) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 5: Aria: Due tiranni ho nel mio cor[e] (Two tyrants have I in my heart) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Felice e il volto mio ... (My face looks happy ... ) (Cleonilla, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 6: Aria: Leggi almeno, tiranna infedele (Read at least, O faithless tyrant) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Che mai scrisse qui Caio? ... (Whatever has Caio written here? ... ) (Cleonilla, Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 7: Aria: Tu vedrai (You shall see) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Cesare, io gia prevedo ... (Caesar, I foresee ... ) (Decio, Ottone, Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 8: Aria: Povera fedelta (Poor constancy) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Ah Decio, i tuio ricordi ... (Ah Decio, your report ... ) (Ottone, Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 9: Aria: Ben talor favella il Cielo (Very often heaven speaks) (Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Oh! qual error fec'io ... (Oh, how mistaken I was ... ) (Ottone, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 10: Aria: Compatisco il tuo fiero tormento (I sympathise with your great grief) (Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 11: Recitative: Quanto Cleonilla e scaltra ... (How shrewd Cleonilla is! ... ) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 11: Aria: Io sembro appunto (I am just) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 12: Recitative: Ah, che non vuol sentirmi il traditore ... (Ah, the deceiver will not listen to me ... ) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act II Scene 12: Aria: Misero spirto mio (My suffering spirit) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Signor ... (My lord ... ) (Decio, Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 1: Aria: Tutto sprezzo, e trono, e impero (I care for nothing, not my throne nor empire) (Ottone)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Gia di Ottone preveggo ... (I foresee Ottone's ... ) (Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 2: Aria: L'esser amante (To be a lover) (Decio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Cerchi in van ch'io t'ascolti ... (I am deaf to your pleas ... ) (Cleonilla, Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 3: Aria: No, per te non ho piu amor, no (No, I no longer love you, no) (Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Cleonilla ... (Cleonilla ... ) (Tullia, Caio, Cleonilla)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 4: Aria: Guarda in quest'occhi (Look into my eyes, and hear) (Caio)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 5: Recitative: Quant'ha di vago Amor nel suo gran regno ... (All the charms that Love possesses ... ) (Cleonilla, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 5: Aria: Che bel contento (What sweet contentment) (Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Piu soffrir non poss'io ... (I can bear this no longer ... ) (Caio, Cleonilla, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Final Scene: Recitative: Caio infierito ... (Caio in a rage ... ) (Ottone, Decio, Cleonilla, Caio, Tullia)
Ottone in Villa, RV 729: Act III Final Scene: Grande e il contento (Great and heartfelt) (Chorus)

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