Marcello: Requiem in the Venetian Manner

Benedetto Marcello (Composer), Recorded Sound (Composer), Academia de il Musici (Performer), Francesco Moi (Performer), Barbara Zanichelli (Performer), Marisa Pugina (Performer), Mauro Collina (Performer), Vincenzo di Donato (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Academia de il Musici, Francesco Moi, Barbara Zanichelli, Marisa Pugina, Mauro Collina, et al.
• Composer: Benedetto Marcello, Recorded Sound
• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00000I9KI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,772 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A forgotten masterpiece, March 19, 2009

By 

Anton Zimmerling "Sturla" (Moscow, Russia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Marcello: Requiem in the Venetian Manner (Audio CD)

From all great composers Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739) is one of the most underrated and underrecorded ones. A compatriot and rival of Vivaldi, Benedetto Marcello was praised for his musical language - generally more strict and at times also more innotative than by Vivaldi - and for the density of his writing.
After having looked in vain for Marcello's beautiful Miserere, I discovered this wonderful CD. It is a reconstruction of Marcello's Venetian Requiem which was thought lost. Some of Marcello's survived pieces are written in an ascetic manner (a vocal line plus minimal instrumental support), but this one is a large-scale work where Marcello's rich fantasy and his sense of form correlate with a wide palette of orchestral and vocal resources.
The piece is gorgeous, if this term may be applied to religious music.
In addition, the conductor Filippo Maria Bressan performs 'Dulcis Jesu Mater Cara' and organ player Francesco Moi plays two organ sonatas in G minor(C. 736 & 737) by Marcello.
The conducting and singing is very fine. I don't know any other recording of this requiem.

It is sad that Benedetto Marcello should suffer from whims of music fashion in our day, when the CD market abounds with second-rate music from all epochs. Happily one still can buy this item and a few other CDs with Marcello's music.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, June 4, 2011

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Marcello: Requiem in the Venetian Manner (Audio CD)

THE 20TH CENTURY TOTAL ECLIPSE OF BENEDETTO MARCELLO!

Modern day recognition of the music of Benedetto Marcello(1686-1739)has been totally eclipsed by the music of Antonio Vivaldi(1675-1741). If one looks back at Marcello's popularity in the first half of the 18th century in Venetian Music, you will find that he was considered to be one of the musical glories of Italy on a par with Palestrina and Pergolesi, and was referred to as the 'Noble Venetian'. He was admired for his skillful counterpoint, his masterly attention to the words of the text he set and the noble simplicity of his melodies. All of these attributes are present in this lovely and entertaining Requiem.

But alas we do not know exactly when, where, nor for what specific occasion his fine Requeim for soloists, two choirs, strings and continuo, was written. We do know that it was composed between 1728 & 1733. Since this Requiem appeared near the end of his life it can be assumed to possess the symbolic significance of a valediction, looking back upon and summing up his entire existence. It can be likened to a vast and complex mural painting for there is a multitude of stylistic and expressive forms co-existing in perfect balance.

The Athestis Chorus and the Academia de li Musici under the inspirational direction of Filippo Maria Bressan, is presently the only substantial vocal and instrumental ensemble permantly established in Italy specializing in authentically reconstructed performances of the oratorios, masses and cantatas of Bach, Handel and various Venetian composers. And on this recording they produce Marcello Magic!!The choral sound is resonant, refined, buoyant, always moving forward with good balance between the voice parts and show precise diction. They number five sopranos, three altos(two are male), three tenors and four basses. The eight vocal soloists (not chorus members) are skilled and enjoyable to hear, obviously experienced in this genre. I particularly liked the Motet: "Dulcis Jesu Mater cara". It is a duet sung by soprano Marissa Pagina and an outstanding countertenor, not known to me, named Paolo Costa. His voice is strong, particularly in the lower range, but his sound is even and very resonant. Pagina's voice is sweet-sounding and blended well with Costa.

I purchased this recording partly because I have one other disc with the Athestis Chorus that impressed me immediately with its elegant exquisite sound. ("Galuppi, Messa per San Marco"). Lest you think that I am exaggerating in my review about this recording, I include for your perusal several critiques from well-known sources.

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE(HC Robbins Landon): "The performance, using period instruments, is serious, dedicated and somehow very touching, entirely worthy of this work."

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: "Filippo Maria Bressan's all-Italian forces give a vivid performance...Recommened to any baroque enthusiast who fancies venturing off the beaten track."

FANFARE: "Such music can glitter; here the sound is velevety, which is more appropriate."

LA MONDE (Renaud Machart): "The choir Athestis with the instrumental ensemble Academia de li Musici, is conducted by an Italian maestro Filippo Maria Bressan. These musicians are nowadays perfectly comparable to their British, Dutch or French colleagues. Their millimetric respect for the text stands for an intimate comprehension of the expressive figures in the music."

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Stuff!, August 25, 2010

By 

Boomer49 "Boomer49" (Commerce Township,MI) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Marcello: Requiem in the Venetian Manner (Audio CD)

This is feel good music for the soul. A great relief from the discordant trash vomiting over the airwaves today.