Arias for Farinelli

October Program

October 27-30
Atherton, San Francisco, Berkeley

Nicholas McGegan

Vivica Genaux

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Vivica Genaux, mezzo-soprano

FASCH: Concerto for Two Flutes, Two Oboes and Two Bassoons in D Minor
VIVALDI: “Cor mio che prigion sei”, “Sin nel placido soggiorno”, “Alma opressa”
TELEMANN: Concerto for Strings in D major, “Sinfonia Spirituosa”
Farinelli Arias:
HASSE: ”Or la nube procellosa”
PORPORA: “Oh volesser gli Dei…Dolci, freschi aurette”
BROSCHI: “Qual guerriero in campo armato”
RAMEAU: Orchestra suite from La Guirlande

Pre-concert talk at 7:15 PM*
(*6:45 PM on Sunday, October 30)

Vivica Genaux singing “Qual guerriero in campo armato” with Europa Galante, conducted by Fabio Biondi

LISTEN:
Porpora: “Or la nube procellosa” (excerpt)
(Vivica Genaux, from her harmonia mundi CD “Arias for Farinelli”)

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LEARN MORE:

Read the program notes for this concert.

Johann Friedrich Fasch, contemporary of Bach and Handel, alumnus of Leipzig’s St. Thomas School, and kapellmeister in the Saxon city of Zerbst, produced a sizeable body of music that has survived only in part. He is represented by an orchestral concerto à la Telemann, for paired flutes, oboes, and bassoons. The concert also includes a suite from Rameau’s La Guirlande, a one-act ballet from 1751 that has the distinction of having kicked off the modern Rameau revival with a 1903 performance. A example of the ever-popular pastoral genre, La Guirlande tells the story of two lovers and the suspicions of faithlessness that nearly separate them—but all ends happily.

The program also includes arias written for Carlo Broschi, a.k.a. Farinelli, the leading castrato of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers of all time. Possessor of legendary range, power, and refined musicianship, the generous and well-balanced Farinelli stood sharply in contrast to those temperamental and unstable castrati who were just as adept at terrorizing impresarios as thrilling audiences.

More information

Nicholas McGegan
Vivica Genaux
Farinelli
Vivaldi
Telemann
Fasch
Rameau