Customer Reviews

Vivaldi: L'Olimpiade (Vivaldi Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is easily the finest recording of a Vivaldi opera so far, and it is good it is so since this is one his best operas.
Rinaldo Alessandrini and his marvelous Concerto Italiano bring brilliance and panache and the cast couldn't be bettered: contraltos Sara Mingardo and Sonia Prina are outstanding, and the ever delightful soprano Roberta Invernizzi is not to be missed.
Forget the idea that Vivaldi operas are boring, L'Olimpiada is anything but.

In expanding my operatic horizons I find myself drawn more and more to the baroque works. Having whet my teeth on Handel I have been experimenting with his contemporaries and those who came before him. This new recording of a work by Vivaldi based on a libretto by Metastasio has captivated me.

Contrary to popular wisdom which says throw away the libretti and just luxuriate in the music of these works, I find that following the text makes them much more accessible and enjoyable. However, I will admit that it usually takes me more than one listening to actually "get" them completely.

In the present case, the opening allegro hooked me right away, as did the series of beautiful, and relatively short, arias, culminating in perhaps the work's finest inspiration, Licida's 'Mentre dorme', beautifully done by Sara Mingardo. The rest of the music is on a consistently high level as is the performance and recording. Minor quibbles: the Aminta, though accomplished, probably should have been cast with a more imposing soprano, and the cast needs to work on their trills. Highly enjoyable and recommended.

With a flashy and catchy title like the "L'Olimpiade", Vivaldi was certainly vying for opera gold in terms of financial and musical success. And "L'Olimpiade" as an opera event is full of excitement and diversity. The arias and overtures are some of Vivaldi's personal best, and musical treasures. The monetary windfall is certainly Naïve's.

In the presto category, "Siam nave all'onde algenti" stands out at the top of the heap. Though in the role of Aminta, Laura Giordano got stuck with mostly recitative singing, she distinguished herself at the opportunity to sing this aria. Her coloratura and breath control are awesome and apt to the part. "Son qual per mare ignoto" is the other Giordano aria that just blooms as she sings it. Vivaldi would have delighted in approval of hearing her sing these arias so well. Her timbre is beautiful and diaphanous, her coloratura is vibrant, and her breath control again amazing.

In the largo category, Invernizzi and Prina make a duetto made in opera heaven singing "Ne' giorni tuoi felici" to perfection. Their note and tempo are flawless and so cohesive that their two voices fuse seamlessly in a solo.

Definitely in the allegro class, Mingardo peaked my interest in the contralto voice with her vigorous, very theatrical rendition of "Gemo e un punto e fremo". Her voice truly belongs to the stage!

Riccardo Novarro is awesome and capable to lead a tremor with "Non so donde viene".

Bravo!

This is a great opera by a composer who is not known for his operatic output. There are many beautiful arias here. The singers are wonderful too. My problem is all the recitative. They're the aural equivalent of speed bumps and I wish they would just leave them out. An added bonus would be that they could fit everything onto 2 discs instead of 3.

Track 11 is cut short mid sentence at 56 seconds, one of the unforgivable technical flaws to blemish the entire fine work.

It is evident that the performance of L'Olimpiade here was like a beautiful bouquet of roses. unfortinately it was edited and pressed to cd by a lawn mower.

It is unfortunate that OPUS111 neglegted to even listen to the master before sending it to press.

edit - In retrospect, I am still surprised with these flaws and still feel they demand a re-issue of this CD. If you buy the 4 seasons, you expect to receive all 4 seasons and not 3 and 3/4 seasons with "Winter" cut short 50 seconds into the first movement. If the track was recitative It could be more easily overlooked (like the several other cue errors in this release), but that is not the case. The obvious hatchet job was ignored and pushed out to press when it should never have been so. It should be corrected and re-released.

First let me say that I do not understand why two reviewers gave this work less than five stars. The three star review certainly calls for five stars. I am at a loss to explain this. The two star review complains of a technical flaw on one track which he says reduces the entire work to two stars. I can only say to the public to ignore this review. This is a brilliant opera written by that master of the dramatic, Antonio Vivaldi. What a cast! What a Conductor! What music! What absolutely fantastic singers!!! Who could not go crazy about the singing of Mingardo, Prina and Giordano? The reviewer who gave three stars does have one thing right. If you want thrills and pyrotechnics listen to Sara Mingardo singing 'Gemo in un punto e fremo' on track 24 of CD 2. It will make your blood run cold. I am an opera lover and my taste is fairly universal. But for great music with a thrill a minute I'll pick Vivaldi every time.