Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Sonn und Schild

For the fourth time on the Phi label, Philippe Herreweghe presents three cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach – Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4, Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79, and Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80. Written at different moments in the composer’s life and based to a large extent on the works of Martin Luther, these cantatas reflect a marked taste for dramaturgy, vivid word painting and an invariably astonishing use of instruments and voices. Herreweghe and Collegium Vocale Gent give us an accomplished version of these masterpieces, confirming, if further proof were needed, their stature as ardent champions of Bach.

Musica Fiorita / Daniela Dolci ALESSANDRO SCARLATTI Rosinda ed Emireno

"In 2009, I came across an interesting catalogue entry in the Austrian National Library. It was the opera 'Rosinda ed Emiremo' by Giacomo Perti with obbligato cornett arias. Since this instrument has always played a major role on many of our programmes, I was immediately electrified by this finding. The music turned out to be highly interesting – sweet, sonorous melodies with dialogues between the voice and cornett, a wonderful musical rarity. I soon put together a Bolognese concert programme on which the most beautiful arias from the opera were combined with instrumental sonatas from Giovanni Legrenzi’s Op. 8. The music went together very well and could be so readily combined because Legrenzi had dedicated his Op. 8 to Perti’s uncle, Lorenzo Perti. In addition, we played an aria from Giacomo Perti’s opera 'Penelope la Casta' in which the cornett has a highly virtuoso part. After the concert and the CD recording, I was contacted by the musicologist Rodolfo Zitellini, who specialises in Perti. He drew my attention to an opera by Alessandro Scarlatti entitled 'L’Emiremo ovvero il consiglio dell’ombra', based on the same libretto as Perti’s 'Rosinda ed Emiremo'. It was quite a surprise when we realised that not only were the libretti the same, but that the two operas – each aria, each recitative – were absolutely identical! I asked Rodolfo Zitellini to take on this task and, thanks to his painstaking research, we know today that Scarlatti composed the opera, not Perti. We are most delighted over the solution to this almost criminological puzzle and grateful for this new knowledge. One way or the other, it is clear that the music is magnificent, and it has been a worthwhile endeavour to wrest it from the darkness of the archive." (Daniela Dolci)