Naples, with 315,000 inhabitants in the mid-18th century, was the third largest European city after London and Paris, and a major center of political, commercial, and cultural influence.
Composer Biography
Hasse's career was closely tied to that of his wife, Faustina Bordoni, one of the most famous sopranos of her time, who dedicated herself to promoting his compositions.
Composer Biography
Nicola Porpora, a prominent composer of vocal music, trained a generation of composers and singers, including the famous castrati Farinelli and Caffarelli, and Johann Adolph Hasse, who later became his rival.
Recording & Production
The recording includes the world premiere of Porpora's Nisi Dominus, which was rediscovered in the library of the Cathedral of St. Rombout in Mechelen.
Composer Biography
Porpora's career included a notorious rivalry with Handel in London, and he was assisted in his old age in Vienna by his pupil-valet, Joseph Haydn.
Composer Biography
Johann Adolph Hasse, a German composer, was sent to Naples by his patron, the Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg, to study with Porpora, but soon became one of Porpora's main rivals.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Both Porpora and Hasse were strongly influenced by opera, and their sacred compositions reflect the Italian taste of the time, with melody taking precedence and allowing singers to display their talent.
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