Francesco Feo, the composer of this oratorio, was the son of an ordinary Neapolitan tailor and revealed a substantial flair for music from an early age.
Composition History
The oratorio San Francesco di Sales, Apostolo del Chablais, by Francesco Feo, premiered on January 24, 1734, in Bologna.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The oratorio centers on the missionary activity of Saint Francis de Sales, focusing more on reflections and imagery than on dramatic action.
Historical Context
Francesco Feo was a leading composer of the Neapolitan school, which influenced music across Europe from 1650-1800, with Naples being a principal cultural center.
Critical Reception
Around 1800, nearly forty years after Feo's death, the composer and critic Johann Friedrich Reichardt still considered him one of Europe's greatest composers, comparable to Bach and Handel.
Recording & Production
The musical materials for this recording of Feo's oratorio were prepared by composer and guitarist Manuel de Roo over two years, due to the original manuscript's illegibility.
Compositional Technique
The scoring of Feo's oratorio, for four solo voices, a small chorus, and an orchestra of trumpets, oboe, strings, and continuo, was typical for its time and intended for an oratory or small chapel.
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