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Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741):
Bajazet

5099945645921
Libretto: Agostino Piovene · Critical edition: Fabio Biondi
Tragedia per musica
Presentato al Nuovo Teatro dell’Accademia di Verona, Carnevale di 1735

WITH BONUS 30-MINUTE DVD
Tamerlane, emperor of the Tartars DAVID DANIELS
Bajazet, emperor of the Turks, a prisoner to Tamerlane ILDEBRANDO D’ARCANGELO
Asteria, daughter to Bajazet, in love with Andronicus MARIJANA MIJANOVIĆ
Andronicus, a Grecian prince, confederate with Tamerlane ELINA GARANČA
Irene, princess of Trebisond, promised in marriage to Tamerlane VIVICA GENAUX
Idaspe, friend to Andronicus PATRIZIA CIOFI
Europa Galante

Fabio Biondi
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Synopsis

A recurring theme in Baroque opera and theatre was the story of the Ottoman sultan Bajazet (historically Bayezid), who was defeated and kept captive by the Tartar emperor Tamerlano (Timur Lank or Tamerlaine). Written in 1735, this opera is a masterfully conceived pasticcio: in other words, Vivaldi combines his own music with material borrowed and adapted from other composers. At the time, the established operatic idiom of Venice, Vivaldi’s home, was losing ground to the extravagant Neapolitan style of composers such as Hasse, Giacomelli and Riccardo Broschi (brother of the legendary castrato Farinelli), whose work appears in Bajazet. Perhaps significantly, Vivaldi himself wrote the the arias for the noble-minded captives Bajazet and his daughter Asteria, while he adapted the music of other composers for Tamerlano and his entourage: his ally Andronicus – a Greek prince who, like Tamerlano, is in love with Asteria – and the princess Irene, betrothed to Tamerlano, but rejected by him. In the final act of a plot filled with passion and intrigue and driven by Vivaldi’s powerful recitatives, Tamerlano discovers that Andronico loves Asteria and resolves to put Bajazet to death, enslave Asteria (who has tried to poison him) and marry Irene. In desperation, Bajazet commits suicide and the mortified Tamerlano pardons Asteria and Andronico.

Compact Disc 1 73.37

Sinfonia
1 Allegro 2.31
2 Andante molto 2.35
3 Allegro 1.11

ACT ONE
Scene 1
4 Recitative Prence lo so: vi devo (Bajazet, Andronico) 1.17
5 Aria Del destin non dee lagnarsi (Bajazet) 3.39
Scene 2
6 Recitative Non si perda di vista (Andronico, Idaspe) 0.57
7 Aria Nasce rosa lusinghiera Idaspe 3.54
Scene 3
8 Recitative Principe, or ora i greci (Tamerlano, Andronico) 2.11
9 Aria In sì torbida procella (Tamerlano) 3.58
Scene 4
10 Recitative Il Tartaro ama Asteria (Andronico) 0.34
11 Aria Quel ciglio vezzosetto (Andronico) 6.25
Scenes 5–6
12 Recitative Or sì, fiero destino (Asteria, Tamerlano) 3.16
13 Aria Vedeste mai sul prato (Tamerlano) 5.35
Scenes 7–8
14 Recitative Non ascolto più nulla (Bajazet, Asteria, Andronico) 3.41
15 Aria Amare un’alma ingrata (Asteria) 4.56
Scene 9
16 Recitative Così la sposa il Tamerlano accoglie? (Irene, Andronico, Idaspe) 2.11
17 Aria Qual guerriero in campo armato (Irene) 7.37
Scene 10
18 Recitative È bella Irene (Andronico) 0.46
19 Aria Non ho nel sen costanza (Andronico) 5.29

ACT TWO
Scene 1
20 Recitative Amico, tengo un testimon fedele (Tamerlano, Andronico) 1.33
Scene 2
21 Recitative Sarete or ostinato (Idaspe, Andronico) 1.03
22 Aria Anche il mar par che sommerga (Idaspe) 3.42
Scene 3
23 Recitative Gloria, sdegno ed amore (Asteria, Andronico) 1.12
24 Aria Stringi le mie catene (Asteria) 3.10

Compact Disc 2 72.49

Scene 4
1 Recitative Ah, disperato Andronico! (Andronico) 0.53
2 Aria La sorte mia spietata (Andronico) 6.14
Scene 5
3 Recitative Signor, vergine illustre (Idaspe, Tamerlano, Irene, Asteria) 1.29
4 Aria Cruda sorte, avverso fato! (Tamerlano) 3.45
Scene 6
5 Recitative Senti, chiunque tu sia (Asteria, Irene) 0.51
6 Aria La cervetta timidetta (Asteria) 5.02
Scene 7
7 Recitative Gran cose espone Asteria (Irene, Idaspe) 0.30
8 Aria Sposa, son disprezzata (Irene) 6.27
Scene 8
9 Recitative Dov’è mia figlia, Andronico? (Bajazet, Andronico) 1.10
10 Aria Dov’è la figlia? (Bajazet) 2.10
Scene 9
11 Recitative Asteria, siamo al soglio – Accompagnato: Odi, perfida 5.05
(Tamerlano, Asteria, Bajazet, Irene, Andronico)
12 Quartet Sì crudel! questo è l’amore (Irene, Bajazet, Asteria, Tamerlano) 2.15

ACT THREE
Scene 1
13 Recitative Figlia, siam rei (Bajazet, Asteria) 1.32
14 Aria Veder parmi, or che nel fondo (Bajazet) 3.38
Scenes 2–3
15 Recitative Andronico, il mio amore (Tamerlano, Andronico, Asteria, Bajazet) 2.14
16 Aria Barbaro traditor (Tamerlano) 3.36
Scene 4
17 Recitative Lascerò di regnare (Andronico) 0.39
18 Aria Spesso tra vaghe rose (Andronico) 7.20
Scenes 5–7
19 Recitative Eccoti, Bajazette (Tamerlano, Asteria, Andronico, Bajazet, Irene) 3.11
20 Arioso Verrò crudel, spietato (Bajazet) 0.42
Scene 8
21 Recitative Signor, fra tante cure (Irene, Tamerlano) 0.50
22 Aria Son tortorella (Irene) 6.08
Scene 9
23 Recitative Signore, Bajazette (Idaspe, Tamerlano, Andronico) 0.43
Scene 10
24 Accompagnato: È morto, sì, tiranno (Asteria) 1.32
25 Aria Svena, uccidi, abbatti, atterra (Asteria) 2.10
Finale
26 Recitative Deh, tu cauto la segui (Andronico, Irene, Tamerlano) 0.47
27 Chorus Coronata di gigli e rose (Tutti) 1.42

BONUS DVD

1 Aria Qual guerriero in campo armato 7.37
Vivica Genaux Irene

2 Aria Anche il mar par che sommerga 3.42
Patrizia Ciofi Idaspe

3 Aria Dov’è la figlia? 2.10
Ildebrando D’Arcangelo Bajazet

4 Aria Barbaro traditor 3.36
David Daniels Tamerlano

5 Aria Spesso tra vaghe rose 7.20
Elina Garan?a Andronico

6 Arioso Verrò crudel, spietato 0.42
Ildebrando D’Arcangelo Bajazet

7 Aria Svena, uccidi, abbatti, atterra 2.10
Marijana Mijanovi? Asteria

Directed by Olivier Simmonet
Calicot Productions

 



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