The Mozartists

Artaxerxes

Price: € 22.95
Format: CD
Label: Signum Classics
UPC: 0635212067222
Catnr: SIGCD 672
Release date: 14 May 2021
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Label
Signum Classics
UPC
0635212067222
Catalogue number
SIGCD 672
Release date
14 May 2021
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN

About the album

A composer inextricably linked with London’s Covent Garden, Thomas Arne’s greatest opera, Artaxerxes, was premièred at the Theatre Royal, the predecessor of the Royal Opera House, on 2 February 1762, and remained in the Covent Garden repertory until the late 1830s – where it received a documented 111 performances before 1790. The young Mozart almost certainly attended a performance when he came to London in the mid-1760s, and Haydn was also acquainted with the work, enthusiastically exclaiming that he “had no idea we had such an opera in the English language”.

The Mozartists, under the dynamic leadership of conductor and artistic director Ian Page, are leading exponents of the music of Mozart and his contemporaries. Originally called Classical Opera, the company was founded in 1997, and has received widespread international acclaim for its stylish and virtuosic period-instrument orchestra, its imaginative and innovative programming, and its ability to nurture and develop world-class young artists.

Renowned for their fresh and insightful interpretations of well-known masterpieces as well as for their ability to bring rare and neglected works to light, they have mounted staged productions of many of Mozart’s operas. In 2015 the company launched MOZART 250, a ground-breaking 27-year project exploring the chronological trajectory of Mozart’s life, works and influences. Described by The Observer as “among the most audacious classical music scheduling ever”, this flagship project presents 250th anniversary performances of most of Mozart’s important works, placing them in context alongside other significant works by Mozart’s contemporaries.

Artist(s)

Christopher Ainslie (countertenor)

Caitlin Hulcup (mezzo soprano)

Elizabeth Watts (soprano)

Rebecca Bottone (soprano)

The Mozartists

The Mozartists, under the dynamic leadership of conductor and artistic director Ian Page, are leading exponents of the music of Mozart and his contemporaries. Originally called Classical Opera, the company was founded in 1997, and has received widespread international acclaim for its stylish and virtuosic period-instrument orchestra, its imaginative and innovative programming, and its ability to nurture and develop world-class young artists. The Mozartists have a prolific recording profile, and perform regularly at the UK’s leading venues, including Wigmore Hall, the Barbican, Southbank Centre and Birmingham Town Hall; they have also toured to Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Greece and the Czech Republic. Renowned for their fresh and insightful interpretations of well-known masterpieces as well as for their ability to bring rare works to...
more

The Mozartists, under the dynamic leadership of conductor and artistic director Ian Page, are leading exponents of the music of Mozart and his contemporaries. Originally called Classical Opera, the company was founded in 1997, and has received widespread international acclaim for its stylish and virtuosic period-instrument orchestra, its imaginative and innovative programming, and its ability to nurture and develop world-class young artists.

The Mozartists have a prolific recording profile, and perform regularly at the UK’s leading venues, including Wigmore Hall, the Barbican, Southbank Centre and Birmingham Town Hall; they have also toured to Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Greece and the Czech Republic. Renowned for their fresh and insightful interpretations of well-known masterpieces as well as for their ability to bring rare works to light, they have mounted staged productions of many of Mozart’s operas, and have also given numerous UK premières, including Gluck’s La clemenza di Tito, Telemann’s Orpheus, Jommelli’s Il Vologeso, Haydn’s Applausus and Hasse’s Piramo e Tisbe.

In 2015 the company launched MOZART 250, a ground-breaking 27-year project exploring the chronological trajectory of Mozart’s life, works and influences. Described by The Observer as “among the most audacious classical music scheduling ever”, this flagship project presents 250thanniversary performances of most of Mozart’s important works, placing them in context alongside other significant works by Mozart’s contemporaries.

Page and his ensemble are also celebrated for their studio recordings. Their first two recordings – ‘The A-Z of Mozart Opera’ and ‘Blessed Spirit – a Gluck retrospective’ – were both selected for Gramophone’s annual Critics’ Choice, and the first seven releases in their ongoing recording cycle of the complete Mozart operas have attracted superlative reviews. Further recordings include the acclaimed 2-CD set ‘Mozart in London’ and recital discs featuring tenor Allan Clayton (‘Where’er You Walk’) and soprano Sophie Bevan (‘Perfido!’), both of which were shortlisted for the International Opera Awards. They recently released the first two volumes in a new ‘Sturm und Drang’ series.

“Conductor, instrumentalists and singers alike make sound the servant of the sense, with stylish, eloquent and dramatic music-making of the highest order.” INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW


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Ian Page (conductor)

Ian Page (conductor) is the founder, conductor and artistic director of Classical Opera, and is emerging as one of the leading British conductors of his generation. He began his musical education as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, and studied English Literature at the University of York before completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. At the start of his career he worked on the music staff at Scottish Opera, Opera Factory, Glyndebourne and the Drottningholm Slottsteater in Sweden, working with such conductors as Sir Alexander Gibson, Nicholas McGegan, Mark Wigglesworth, Ivor Bolton and Sir Charles Mackerras. With Classical Opera he has conducted most of Mozart’s early operas, including the world première of the ‘original’ version of Mitridate,...
more

Ian Page (conductor) is the founder, conductor and artistic director of Classical Opera, and is emerging as one of the leading British conductors of his generation. He began his musical education as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, and studied English Literature at the University of York before completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. At the start of his career he worked on the music staff at Scottish Opera, Opera Factory, Glyndebourne and the Drottningholm Slottsteater in Sweden, working with such conductors as Sir Alexander Gibson, Nicholas McGegan, Mark Wigglesworth, Ivor Bolton and Sir Charles Mackerras.

With Classical Opera he has conducted most of Mozart’s early operas, including the world première of the ‘original’ version of Mitridate, re di Ponto and a new completion of Zaide, as well as Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte and La clemenza di Tito. He has also conducted the UK premières of Gluck’s La clemenza di Tito, Telemann’s Orpheus and Jommelli’s Il Vologeso, as well as the first new staging for 250 years of Johann Christian Bach’s Adriano in Siria. In 2009 he made his Royal Opera House début conducting Arne’s Artaxerxes at the Linbury Studio Theatre, and his studio recording of the work was released in 2011 on Linn Records.

He devised and conducted Classical Opera’s recordings of ‘The A-Z of Mozart Opera’ (Signum Classics) and ‘Blessed Spirit – a Gluck retrospective’ (Wigmore Hall Live), both of which were selected for Gramophone magazine’s annual Critic’s Choice, and he recently embarked on an acclaimed new complete cycle of Mozart opera recordings with Classical Opera. He has also created and devised MOZART 250, Classical Opera’s ambitious 27-year journey through Mozart’s music and influences, which was launched in London in 2015.


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Composer(s)

Press

Play album
Disc #1
01.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Overture (Poco più che andante – Larghetto – Gavotta)
05:13
02.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Still silence reigns around” (Mandane, Arbaces)
00:29
03.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 1, Duettino: “Fair Aurora, prithee stay” (Mandane, Arbaces)
02:16
04.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Alas, thou know’st that for my love to thee” (Arbaces, Mandane)
01:13
05.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 2, Air: “Adieu, thou lovely youth” (Mandane)
03:21
06.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “O cruel parting! How can I survive?” (Arbaces, Artabanes)
00:57
07.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 3, Air: “Amid a thousand racking woes” (Arbaces)
04:38
08.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Be firm, my heart” (Artabanes, Artaxerxes)
01:26
09.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 4, Air: “Behold, on Lethe’s dismal strand” (Artabanes)
03:36
10.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Stay, Artaxerxes, stay” (Semira, Artaxerxes)
00:29
11.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 5, Air: “Fair Semira, lovely maid” (Artaxerxes)
03:26
12.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “I fear some dread disaster” (Semira, Rimenes)
01:29
13.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 6, Air: “When real joy we miss” (Rimenes)
01:59
14.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Ye Gods, protectors of the Persian Empire” (Semira)
00:36
15.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 7, Air: “How hard is the fate” (Semira)
04:01
16.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Whither do I fly?” (Tutti)
03:23
17.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 8, Air: “Thy father! Away, I renounce the soft claim” (Artabanes)
01:23
18.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Ye cruel Gods, what crime have I committed” (Arbaces)
00:14
19.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 9, Air: “Acquit thee of this foul offence” (Semira)
01:27
20.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Recitative: “Appearance, I must own, is strong against me” (Arbaces, Artaxerxes, Rimenes, Mandane)
00:48
21.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 10, Air: “O too lovely, too unkind” (Arbaces)
04:24
22.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: Accompanied recitative: “Dear and beloved shade” (Mandane)
00:48
23.
Artaxerxes, Act 1: No. 11, Air: “Fly, soft ideas, fly” (Mandane)
05:01
24.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “Guards, speed ye to the tower” (Artaxerxes, Artabanes)
02:12
25.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 12, Air: “In infancy, our hopes and fears” (Artaxerxes)
01:28
26.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “So far my great resolve succeeds” (Artabanes, Arbaces)
02:46
27.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 13, Air: “Disdainful you fly me” (Arbaces)
02:05
28.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “Why, my dear friend, so pensive” (Rimenes, Artabanes, Semira)
01:12
29.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 14, Air: “To sigh and complain” (Rimenes)
03:00
30.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “How many links to dire misfortune’s chain” (Semira, Mandane)
00:37
31.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 15, Air: “If o’er the cruel tyrant love” (Mandane)
01:51

Disc #2
01.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “Which fatal evil shall I first oppose?” (Semira)
00:31
02.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 16, Air: “If the river’s swelling waves” (Semira)
02:34
03.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “Ye solid pillars of the Persian Empire” (Tutti)
05:00
04.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 17, Air: “By that belov’d embrace” (Arbaces)
03:31
05.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “Ah me, at poor Arbaces’ parting” (Mandane, Artabanes)
00:46
06.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 18, Air: “Monster, away” (Mandane)
02:36
07.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Recitative: “See, lov’d Semira” (Artaxerxes, Semira, Artabanes)
00:37
08.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: Accompanied recitative: “At last my soul has room” (Artabanes)
04:58
09.
Artaxerxes, Act 2: No. 19, Air: “Thou, like the glorious sun” (Artabanes)
01:02
10.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 20, Air: “Why is death for ever late” (Arbaces)
02:57
11.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “Arbaces! Gracious Heav’n” (Artaxerxes, Arbaces)
01:13
12.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 21, Air: “Water parted from the sea” (Arbaces)
02:19
13.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “That face, secure in conscious innocence” (Artaxerxes)
00:25
14.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 22, Air: “Though oft a cloud with envious shade” (Artaxerxes)
03:38
15.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “My son, Arbaces... where art thou retir’d?” (Artabanes, Rimenes)
01:52
16.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 23, Air: “O let the danger of a son” (Rimenes)
02:15
17.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Accompanied recitative: “Ye adverse Gods!” (Artabanes)
00:41
18.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 24, Air: “O, much lov’d son, if death” (Artabanes)
05:15
19.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “Perhaps the King releas’d Arbaces” (Mandane, Semira)
01:34
20.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 25, Air: “Let not rage, thy bosom firing” (Mandane)
04:24
21.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “What have I done? Alas, I vainly thought” (Semira)
00:24
22.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 26, Air: “’Tis not true that in our grief” (Semira)
04:08
23.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “Nor here my searching eyes” (Arbaces, Mandane)
01:20
24.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 27, Duetto: “For thee I live, my dearest” (Arbaces, Mandane)
03:37
25.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “To you, my people, much belov’d” (Artaxerxes, Artabanes, Semira, Mandane)
02:20
26.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 28, Air: “The soldier, tir’d of war’s alarms” (Mandane)
03:33
27.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: Recitative: “Behold, my King, Arbaces at thy feet” (Arbaces, Artaxerxes, Mandane, Artabanes)
02:25
28.
Artaxerxes, Act 3: No. 29, Finale: “Live to us, to Empire live” (Semira, Mandane, Arbaces, Artaxerxes, Artabanes)
03:36
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