Pergolesi's L'Olimpiade album review highlights a pacy conducting and fine cast that animate this baroque rarity. This recording of Pietro Metastasio's tale of dirty doings at the ancient Olympic Games brings new life to a work that has seen over 60 composers set it to music, including Caldara, Vivaldi, and Cherubini.
Pergolesi's L'Olimpiade: A Baroque Masterpiece Revived
Premiered in 1735 and resurrected in 1937, Pergolesi's version is among the finest, presaging what should have been a glorious operatic career if only the composer hadn't died at the age of 26. The story begins as the formidable Megacle is persuaded to compete in disguise as his hot-headed friend Licida, unaware that the prize is the hand of Aristea, the woman he loves. With Licida's cast-off mistress Argene masquerading as a shepherdess and the discovery that Licida is Aristea's long-lost twin, the plot offers brain-addling complexity.
Performance and Recording Quality
Alessandro De Marchi recorded a four-hour epic in 2010, but Giulio Prandi's two-and-a-half hour version with unobtrusive cuts ensures the drama flies by. The conducting is ideally pacy, and the Orchestra Ghislieri's playing is sinewy and tightly sprung, though the recording lacks the sonic depth of De Marchi's account. In a fine cast, Carlotta Colombo stands out as a richly rounded Aristea, contrasted with Silvia Frigato's plaintive Argene. Josè Maria Lo Monaco's supple mezzo-soprano brings complexity to Licida, with Theodora Raftis as a convincingly boyish Megacle.
| Aspect | Prandi (2025) | De Marchi (2010) |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2.5 hours | 4 hours |
| Conducting | Pacy, energetic | More expansive |
| Recording Depth | Lacks sonic depth | Richer sound |
| Live Feel | Includes stage noise and applause | Studio recording |
Key Takeaways from the L'Olimpiade Review
- Pergolesi's L'Olimpiade is a baroque rarity with a compelling plot of mistaken identity and love.
- Giulio Prandi's conducting is pacy and engaging, making the drama fly by.
- The cast features standout performances, especially Carlotta Colombo as Aristea.
- The live recording captures the thrill of performance despite stage noise.
- This album is available on Apple Music and Spotify for baroque opera enthusiasts.
FAQ
What is Pergolesi's L'Olimpiade about?
The opera tells the story of Megacle competing in disguise at the Olympic Games, unaware that the prize is his beloved Aristea, leading to a complex plot of mistaken identity and love.
Who conducts this new recording of L'Olimpiade?
Giulio Prandi conducts the Orchestra Ghislieri in this 2025 recording, offering a pacy and tightly sprung performance.
How does this version compare to earlier recordings?
Unlike Alessandro De Marchi's 2010 four-hour epic, Prandi's version is condensed to two-and-a-half hours with cuts, making the drama more fast-paced, though it lacks some sonic depth.
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