MONTEVERDI,C.: L'Orfeo, Favola In Musica (2CD)

Claudio Monteverdi – L’Orfeo: Favola in Musica (1607)
Libretto by Alessandro Striggio

Performed on period instruments by Music from Aston Magna
Frank Kelley — Orfeo
Daniel Stepner — artistic director

Disc One

1. Toccata – 1:42

Prologue

2. Ritornello; La Musica: “Dal mio permesso amato…” – 5:59

Act I (a meadow in Thrace)

3. Shepherd: “In questo lieto e fortunato giorno…” – 1:36
4. Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds: “Vieni Imeneo…” – 3:46
5. Orfeo: “Rosa del ciel…” – 2:02
6. Euridice: “Io non dirò…” – 2:43
7. Shepherd: “Ma se il nostro gioir…” – 4:03
8. Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds: “Ecco Orfeo…” – 0:46

Act II (a nearby grove)

9. Sinfonia; Orfeo: “Ecco pur ch’a voi ritorno…” – 1:33
10. Two Shepherds: “In questo prato adorno…” – 1:38
11. Orfeo: “Vi ricorda o boschi ombrosi…” – 3:00
12. Messaggera: “Ahi, caso acerbo…” – 6:54
13. Orfeo: “Tu se’ morta…” – 2:33
14. Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds: “Ahi, caso acerbo…”; Ritornello – 9:48

Disc One Total Time: 48:11

Disc Two

Act III (at the portal to the Underworld)

1. Sinfonia; Orfeo: “Scorto da te, mio nume…” – 2:07
2. Speranza: “Ecco l’atra palude…” – 3:19
3. Caronte: “O tu ch’innanzi morte…” – 1:36
4. Sinfonia; Orfeo: “Possente spirto…” – 10:17
5. Caronte: “Ben mi lusinga alquanto…” – 4:38
6. Sinfonia; Underworld chorus: “Nulla impresa per uom si tenta…” – 2:44

Act IV (deep in the Underworld)

7. Sinfonia; Proserpina: “Signor, quell’infelice…” – 3:01
8. Plutone: “Benché severo…” – 4:37
9. Underworld chorus: “Pietade, oggi, e Amore…” – 0:34
10. Orfeo: “Qual onor di te fia degno…” – 3:21
11. Euridice: “Ahi, vista troppo dolce…” – 2:02
12. Sinfonia; Underworld chorus: “È la virtute…” – 3:15

Act V (a meadow in Thrace)

13. Ritornello; Orfeo: “Questi i campi di Tracia…” – 8:12
14. Sinfonia; Apollo: “Perché a lo sdegno…” – 4:34
15. Apollo and Orfeo: “Saliam cantand’al ciel…” – 1:04
16. Ritornello; Chorus of Nymphs and Shepherds: “Vanne Orfeo…” – 1:05
17. Moresca – 1:19

Disc Two Total Time: 57:57