Customer Reviews

Marie Madeleine aux Pieds du Christ-Ensemble Conce

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This `Madelena' was the major work of a young Bononcini. He already shows here his confidence and melodic gift. As an Opera composer, he was compared to Handel and competed with him in London in later years. But where Handel is majestic and forceful, Bononcini is delicate and sweet, characteristics which music afficianados of later eras did not value highly. But perhaps his time has come again. This work has all the pathos and melody that anyone can ask for. His work reminds me of another under-appreciated composer, Telemann, also now coming into his own. Neither man could put two notes together without attempting to please. Pleasure of listening is the essence of his music. And this recording will exemplify this completely. Each aria is more beautiful than the last. Despite the packaging malfunctions referred to by an earlier reviewer, it would be a shame to pass up this lovely work by a great composer. As far as the performance and direction, they are excellent. Especially note the first part, where three sopranos compete for attention, but each singer is distinct in tone and attitude, making the parts easily distinguished. If you have the Caldara `Madelena', (highly recommended also) you can consult that for the translation and get a good idea of the `action'. Or you might sell all you have, move to Italy for the next few years and learn to understand Italian like a native, in order to appreciate the way Bononcini combines melody and Italian lyric, a talent he was known for. It might be worth it.

The perfomance is impeccable but the packaging and booklet are abyssmal. The booklet is glued to the inside of the case and is almost impossible to read unless you rip it out. Also it only has a French translation of the Italian text.