The vocal lines on this recording are adorned with historical graces (manieren) like cercar della nota, trills, vibrato, and portamentos, avoiding modern 'Baroque' singing tastes.
Composer Biography
Luigi Marchesi, a soprano castrato, was a leading figure in Italian musical life, known for his vocal recklessness and philanthropic activities in Milan.
Compositional Technique
Marchesi's Ariette feature unusual vocal techniques, such as sudden descents to the lower register, chromaticism, syncopation, and the 'Bomba di Marchesi' (a sudden ascending scale).
Interpretation
The performers on this album use four original instruments (one harp and three fortepianos) from the 18th and 19th centuries, rather than copies, to recreate the authentic sound.
Recording & Production
The recording deliberately preserves mechanical noises from the 200-year-old instruments, considering them part of their charm, and uses a close, limpid sound to evoke a salon performance.
Cultural Impact
Marchesi's Ariette were a luxury product in the London printed music market, which had significant economic potential, and they achieved lasting success with re-editions until at least 1828.
Composition History
Marchesi's compositions, including the Ariette op. i and op. ii, were mostly occasional works written during his stays in Britain between 1788 and 1790.
You might also enjoy...
No Ordinary Woman
So Smooth, So Sweet: Songs of Allen Sapp
Mélodies of Francis Poulenc
Bliss: Piano Quartet; Angels of the Mind; Triptych
Harmonie
Cantos y Cuentos
Dvorák: Songs
The Poet's Echo
Romanze da salotto inedite dell'ottocento
Schumann in English, Vol. 1
Nights Not Spent Alone: Complete Works for Mezzo-Soprano by Jonathan Dove
