Andrew Radley, Sounds Baroque & Julian Perkins
Description
Rising star countertenor Andrew Radley with harpsichord virtuoso Julian Perkins and his period instrument ensemble Sounds Baroque, mirror the conversazione, or musical gatherings, of 17th and 18th century Italy with a programme of dramatic cantatas and magical instrumental works.
In the late 17th century, all roads really did lead to Rome for the aspiring musician. There, wealthy aristocrats-turned-priests and Catholic nobility from across Europe vied for cultural status through artistic patronage. In particular, the young Pietro Ottoboni (1667-1740) reigned supreme among patrons of music, supporting among others Caldara and Albinoni, Alessandro Scarlatti and his son Domenico, and Handel, all of whom inspired and were inspired by one another. Musical gatherings of the time - called conversazione - often featured dramatic cantatas as well as virtuoso instrumental showpieces such as the works featured on this album.
Recalling this fertile musical era, rising star countertenor Andrew Radley with Julian Perkins and his London-based period instrument ensemble Sounds Baroque, dispatch these entertaining vocal works with aplomb, interspersed with virtuosic harpsichord works performed to perfection by Perkins. With this, the first in a series of conversazione recordings, Sounds Baroque celebrates the passion, theatricality and sheer variety of music from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Personnel: Andrew Radley (countertenor), Sounds Baroque, Julian Perkins (harpsichord / director)
Critical acclaim:
"Countertenor Andrew Radley seized his opportunities, with strongly projected singing." - Opera magazine
Julian Perkins is "a leader in the new generation of keyboard virtuosi." - Cambridge Early Music
Tracklisting
The Orchestra Now; Leon Botstein
Donald Berman
Lauren Scott
East of the River
Sebastian Bohren, Sergei Bolkhovets, Munchener Kammerorchester
Cantata Collective; Nicholas McGegan
Yoshika Masuda, HyeJin Kim
Vincent Larderet
caterva musica
Claudio Ronco; Emanuela Vozza
Phillipe Grisvard, Ensemble Diderot, Johannes Pramsohler
Alexander Grychtolik, Il Gardellino
Rebeka Ruso; Sebastian Wienand
Michael Oman; Austrian Baroque Company
Henry Moderlak; Joan Boronat Sanz; Clara Brunet; Ute Hartwich; Olivier Mourauld; Reto Baumann
Iskrena Yordanova; Zefira Valova
