DESCRIPTION:
Philippe Jaroussky

Live recording from the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney in February 2010.
Broadcast by ABC Classic FM on 03.06. 2010
VIVALDI OLYMPIA
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
Paul Dyer, harpsichord / director.
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi ( 1678 - 1741) - Aria of Licida " Mentre dormi, Amor fomenti " ( Atto Primo, Scena ottava ) from the Opera "L´Olimpiade" , RV 725, "dramma per musica " in three acts on an Italian libretto by Pietro Metastasio, originally written for Antonio Caldara´s opera ( 1733 ) with the same title .
The Vivaldi´s version was premiered on 17.February 1734 at the Teatro Sant´Angelo in Venice. We could just guess about the first cast, but I´m almost sure, that the role of Aristea was sung by the beloved Vivaldi´s Primadonna Anna Giró ( Giraud) , who was also his first Griselda
( 18.May 1735 ) and for whom Vivaldi wrote more than fifteen major roles during her career from "Farnace" (1726) to "Catone in Utica" (1740) .
"Putting on an opera without La Giró is not possible" - told the Maestro himself to the Marchese Bentivoglio.

The other performer could be also Gaetano Valetti , Lorenzo Saletti ( castrati - soprani), Margherita Giacomazzi, Angela Zanucchi, Gregorio Balbi, Antonio Denzo, who were often mentioned in Vivaldi´s productions.

Personaggi:
Clistene, King of Sicione - tenor
Aristea, his daughter , in love with Megacle - contralto
Licida, believed to be the prince of Creta , would -be in love with Aristea, but betrothed to Argene (Licori) - contralto (castrato )
Megacle, friend of Licida, winner of the Olympic Games, in love with Aristea - soprano ( castrato)
Argene, the lady from Creta, disguised as the shepherdess Licori, betrothed to Licida - soprano
Aminta, preceptor of Licida - soprano ( castrato)
Alcandro, confidant of Clistene - bass.

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Licida :

Mentre dormi, Amor fomenti
il piacer de' sonni tuoi
con l'idea del mio piacer.
Abbia il rio passi più lenti;
e sospenda i moti suoi
ogni zeffiro leggier.

Da Capo. :-)
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I beg your pardon, but I don´t know why the pages here are turned with delay while on my video everything happens very on time....