Vivaldi - Ottone in Villa / Argenta, Daneman, Gritton, Groop, Padmore; Hickox

Antonio Vivaldi (Artist), Nancy Argenta (Artist), Mark Padmore (Artist), Richard Hickox (Artist), Collegium Musicum 90 (Artist), Sophie Daneman (Artist), Susan Gritton (Artist), Monica Groop (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 17, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B000006HWO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #266,157 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Sinfonia. Allegro - Larghetto - [Allegro]

2. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 1. Nacqui a gran sorte...Quanto m'alletta

3. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 2. Caio...Sole degl'occhi miei...Ma Cesare qui vien

4. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 3. Cleonilla, a te ne vengo...Caro bene

5. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 4. Più fido amante, e chi mirò giammai?...Par tormento, ed è piacer

6. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 5. Quanto di donna amante...Chi seguir vuol la costanza

7. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 6. Ah! Traditor t'intendo...Con l'amor di donna amante

8. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 7. Quanto m'alletti, o cara...Frema pur, si lagni Roma

9. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 8. Grande ho, Decio, il desio...Il tuo pensiero è lusinghiero

10. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 1. Scene 9. Porgimi il manto, caro...Che fè, che amor

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 4. Qual duolo, o Caio, frenetico ti rende?...Su gl'occhi del tuo ben

2. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 5. Disperato è l'infido...Due tiranni ho nel mio cor[e]

3. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 6. Felice è il volto mio...Leggi almeno, tiranna infedele

4. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 7. Che mai scrisse qui Caio?...Tu vedrai

5. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 8. Cesare, io già prevedo...Povera fedeltà

6. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 9. Ah Decio, i tuoi ricordi...Ben talor favella il Cielo

7. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 10. Oh! qual error fec'io...Compatisco il tuo fiero tormento

8. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 11. Quanto Cleonilla è scaltra...Io sembro appunto

9. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 2. Scene 12. Ah, che non vuol sentirmi il traditore...Misero spirto mio

10. Ottone in Villa, opera in 3 acts, RV 729: Act 3. Scene 1. Signor...Tutto sprezzo, e trono, e impero

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discover unknown Vivaldi!, February 28, 2000

By	"hcf" - See all my reviews

Vivaldi's operas are not well represented on disc. I'm aware of only three, one of which, L'Olympiade, is a really subpar live recording. So, to say that this recording is the best Vivaldi opera recording out there is really not to say much. What needs to be said is this: Ottone in Villa is not only the best Vivaldi opera recording currently in the catalogue, but it is a stellar recording period. First of all, the musical material is highly enjoyable, combining catchy tunes with imaginative instrumental accompaniment (you will recognize the famous Vivaldian flair in many violin passages). Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the cast is superb. Whether or not the opera itself is a veritable baroque masterpiece, the singers certainly make is sound like it is! The structure of the opera is simple: da capo - secco - da capo, no duets or ensembles, except for the 54-second final "chorus" in which all five singers sing a total of four lines in unison. But the result is far from boring (although, if you're new to baroque opera you may want to start with something like Handel Giulio Cesare or Rodelinda). Within the limits of the form, all five singers exhibit a remarkable range of expression. Monica Groop is perfectly at ease in the "pants" role of a naive king who is kept in the dark by his scheming mistress. The mistress is played by Susan Gritton who adds a mischievous sparkle to her sweet soprano voice. Nancy Argenta fills another "pants" role, presenting a somewhat confused character of Caio who keeps vying for the wrong girl but ultimately ends up with the right one. Sophie Daneman's seraphically pure voice is perfect for the character of Tullia who spends most of the opera pretending to be a man. The sole voice of reason in this madhouse is Ottone's confidant Decio played with gusto by Mark Padmore, but even Decio ends up being fooled. You can tell that the story was intended to be droll, but it is droll to a modern listener not because of a captivating plot but despite it. This is a stunning example of how an exciting cast of singers can turn almost anything into an exciting listening experience. [e-mail]