Vivaldi: Orlando finto pazzo (Vivaldi Edition)

Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Alessandro De Marchi (Conductor), Academia Montis Regalis (Orchestra), Antonio Abete (Performer), Gemma Bertagnolli (Performer), Marina Comparato (Performer), Sonia Prina (Performer), Manuela Custer (Performer), Martin Oro (Performer), Marianna Pizzolato (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Antonio Abete, Gemma Bertagnolli, Marina Comparato, Sonia Prina, Manuela Custer, et al.
• Orchestra: Academia Montis Regalis
• Conductor: Alessandro De Marchi
• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (August 17, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Naive
• ASIN: B0001XPYLQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,804 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivaldi Opera: A Rare Jewel, October 17, 2005

By 

Rudy Avila "Saint Seiya" (Lennox, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vivaldi: Orlando finto pazzo (Vivaldi Edition) (Audio CD)

I listened to parts of this recording and was stunned. The variety of showpieces for counter-tenor (or castrati in Vivaldi's time) soprano, alto and mezzo soprano are exquisite and sensational, truly virtuosic pieces only a special few can master. This is something perhaps not even Cecilia Bartoli can take on. Vivaldi's opera music is fiendishly difficult. The music ranges from stormy, jumping coloratura fireworks to achingly slow long arias sung in pianissimi. The music is wonderful and at this time Vivaldi was composing his superb La Stravanza. This was one of his most productive times in his career. However, this is his second opera which means it's considerably better than his first. The singers are masterful, the cover art could be on Vogue magazine (all the Vivaldi opera and vocal pieces on these record labels look that way, containing women who look like super models). This is a must have for fans of Vivaldi and rare Baroque opera. Handel's operas are far more recognized than Vivaldi's but it is an opera like Orlando Finto Pazza (Orlando Feigns Madness) that make Vivaldi easily a tough rival to Handel. The plot is nothing to get thrilled about. Like the title says the title character must feign madness in the style of Hamlet in order to achieve his goals. It is very Shakespearean. Treat yourself to this beautiful jewel and get this recording and other Vivaldi operas to add to your collection.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars intoxicating music, August 3, 2005

By 

David Hutchins (charlotte, nc USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vivaldi: Orlando finto pazzo (Vivaldi Edition) (Audio CD)

Vivaldi's operas have been a revelation to me, not for their dramatic content if any but due to the wonderfully inventive music. I started with Andromeda Liberata which I heard on internet radio, a mysterious apparent pastiche with at least one aria from Vivaldi, full of very exciting and beautiful music. Orlando Finto Pazzo is also excellent, disk 1 is so good I haven't gotten beyond disk 2 yet. Even without any discernible meaningful drama (I start to doze reading the plot), Vivaldi's music is superb and I'm looking forward to any new releases.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great cast, superb opera, June 22, 2009

By 

Bruce Bogin (rural France) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vivaldi: Orlando finto pazzo (Vivaldi Edition) (Audio CD)

It is the great fortune of those who love Baroque opera that so much care has gone into the selection of singers and conductor of Vivaldi operas. One of the real treats is Orlando Finto Pazzo. Led by Alessandro de Marchi it includes a remarkable assemblage of great singers. My favorite in this work is Gemma Bertagnoli, but all of the others are superb. This work belongs on the shelf of everyone who loves Baroque music.