The musician Girolamo Crescentini was a very well-known figure in the greatest theatres, both in Italy and abroad, at the end of the 18th century. He had started out as a castrato singer, but at the beginning of the 19th century he had already become singing teacher to the imperial family and court composer in Paris. After returning to Italy, he was appointed principal of the Conservatories of Bologna, Rome and Naples. One of his pupils was the famous Isabella Colbran, Rossini’s favourite singer.

This recording contains a monographic collection of 6 cantatas and 18 arias for voice and fortepiano composed in Paris in 1810, and a collection of 6 arias composed for the Queen of Holland. These pieces, which have a classical form and are based on texts by Metastasio, show musical characteristics that range from late Classicism to early Romanticism, with a certain influence of Mittel-European lied music, particularly in the piano part. The vocal writing is a real summary of the art of Bel Canto, and its qualities reveal the composer’s vocal and compositional mastery.

With this collection, as well as with his many books of singing exercises, Crescentini was actually laying the foundations for the glories of two centuries of Italian opera singing.

Contents:
CD 1
Sei cantate e 18 Ariette a voce sola [...], 1810
Quinterno Primo
Cantate:
1. Il sogno
2. Il primo amore
Ariette:
3. É pur soave amore
4. Nice verrà quell’ora
5. Quel cor che mi prometti
6. Or che la notte invita
7. Ch’io mai vi possa
8. Sino all’ultimo momento

Quinterno Secondo
Cantate:
9. La scusa
10. Il ritorno
Ariette:
11. Povero cor
12. Ti lascio mia vita
13. Ore spietate
14. Se tu m’ami
15. Oh teneri piaceri
16. Numi se giusti siete

CD 2
Quinterno Terzo
Cantate:
1. Amor timido
2. La gelosia
Ariette:
3. Fra tanti palpiti
4. Son lungi e non mi brami
5. Languir d’amore
6. Mio ben ricordati
7. Dal dì ch’io ti mirai
8. Spine voi che germogliate

Sei Ariette composte per la Regina d’Olanda
9. Sino all’ultimo momento
10. Alma dell’alma mia
11. Quando sarà quel dì
12. Mi lagnerò tacendo
13. Deh frena le lagrime
14. Che chiedi, che brami