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Max Emanuel Cencic - Handel Arias for Senesino
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ARTISTS
Max Emanuel Cencic – Counter tenor
George Petrou – Conductor
Armonia Atenea – Orchestra
PROGRAMME
George Frideric Handel
La trigre arde di sdegno
from Admeto, Re di Tessaglia HWV 22
Cara sposa, amato bene
from Radamisto HWV 12a/12b
All’orror delle procelle
from Riccardo Primo, Re d’Inghilterra HWV 23
Son stanco, ingiusti Numi – Deggio morire, o stelle
from Siroe, Re di Persia HWV 24
Al lampo dell’armi
from Giulio Cesare in Egitto HWV 17
Se dolce m’era già viver
from Floridante HWV 14
Se fiera belva ha cinto
from Rodelinda, Regina de’ Longobardi HWV 19
Cielo! Se tu il consenti
from Orlando HWV 31
Dall’ondoso periglio – Aure, deh, per pietà
from Giulio Cesare in Egitto HWV 17
ABOUT
In this unique concert, Max Emanuel Cencic focuses on one of the most famous and notorious star singers of the eighteenth century. Francesco Bernardi, called Senesino, was one of the most avidly sought-after castrati of his time. Johann Joachim Quantz wrote about him: “Senesino had a penetrating, bright and sweet contralto voice. His countenance was well adapted to the stage and his acting was natural.” In 1719, George Frideric Handle heard him in Dresden and immediately engaged him for London, where he stirred up a furore of adulation, but not without backstage scandals. And even if Senesino and Handel couldn’t stand each other, nevertheless, the world-famous composer still wrote his most beautiful melodies for the throat of the capricious star.
Max Emanuel Cencic - Giovanni Bononcini: Four Cantatas
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ARTISTS
Max Emanuel Cencic – Counter tenor
Dimitris Karakantas – Violin
Evita Schwarz – Violin
Michal Stahel – Violoncello
Jakub Mitrik – Lute
Jason Marmaras – Harpsichord
PROGRAMME
Giovanni Bononcini
Cantatas for Voice Solo, Violins and Basso continuo
Misero pastorello
Sinfonia – Recitativo: “Misero Pastorello” – Aria: “Se tarda l’Aurora” – Recitativo: “Consolati cor mio” – Aria: “Sì, sì, vi riverdrò campagne belle”
A shepherd boy returns to his rural home after a lost love, hoping to find inner peace again.
Già la stagion d’Amore
Sinfonia – Recitativo: “Già la stagione d’Amore” – Aria: “Vaghe rose aprite il seno” – Recitativo: “Pastorella gentile io le risposi” – Aria: “Occhi vezzosi”
Dialogue between a young shepherd and a young shepherdess who meet each other shamefully but erotically charged.
Lasciami un sol momento
Sinfonia – Aria: Lasciami un sol momento” – Recitativo: È possible oh Dio” – Aria: “Soffro in pace la catena”
A shepherdess named Dorinda laments her fate after being abandoned by her lover Eurillo.
Siedi Amarilli mia
Sinfonia – Ritornello: “Siedi Amarilli mia” – Recitativo: “Qui lungi io dal timor” – Ritornello: “Siedi Amarilli mia” – Recitativo: “Quest’erbe questi fior questi ruscelli” – Ritornello: “Siedi Amarilli mia” – Aria: “Io ti miro e poi sospiro” – Recitativo: “Ah sì chi I tuoi begl’occhi” – Aria: “Se scherzo e ride”
Dialogue between Amarilli and Fileno, who are ashamed of their love in front of the other shepherds and cannot find words because of their infatuation.
ABOUT
Giovanni Bononcini was, before he died completely impoverished in Vienna, an internationally sought-after star: Rome, Venice, Vienna, Berlin – all the important musical centres of Europe were eager for his works, until he was ordered to London in 1720 to compete with the great George Frideric Handel, which he successfully did! It was only posterity that put him in Handel’s shadow, but his contemporary audience adored his highly emotional arias, and “his” singers loved him for his brilliant ability to compose for the human voice. Moreover, Bononcini brought the cantata genre to a new height. Max Emanuel Cencic dedicates this concert to Bononcini’s rich cantata oeuvre – works that tell of the joys and sorrows of love in a bucolic manner and leave no eye dry and no heart untouched; sometimes touching and painful, sometimes lively and cheerful.