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A Haydn rarity with Nikolaus Harnoncourt
This unique performance of Haydnʼs biblical oratorio Il ritorno di Tobia, which is so rarely to be heard, is thanks to an unusual gift: the orchestra La Scintilla, which was founded as an “original sound” ensemble comprising musicians from the Zurich opera orchestra, had awarded Nikolaus Harnoncourt honorary membership. The honour included the opportunity for Harnoncourt to choose a piece of music which he could then perform with the orchestra in an ideal atmosphere.
Harnoncourt surprised everyone by choosing Haydnʼs virtually unknown oratorio based on the apocryphal Bible story of Tobias (Tobit), who goes on an adventurous journey with the angel Raphael in order to heal his blind father with the angelʼs help. In keeping with the spirit of the subject matter, the proceeds of the concert were given to a charity supporting war victims of Sarajevo.
The work was performed under Harnoncourtʼs direction with an ideal line-up of soloists (Ann Hallenberg, Valentina Farcas, Mauro Peter, Sen Guo and Ruben Drole) and the magnificent Arnold Schoenberg Choir at a 2013 Salzburg Festival concert in the Felsenreitschule. The release by Orfeo International of the live recording, which is almost devoid of background noise, is only the third-ever recording to have been made of this very seldom performed Haydn oratorio in the history of phonography. Yet again one is moved to ask why so many of Haydnʼs operas and oratorios are so rarely played. Viewed objectively, Il ritorno di Tobia is in no way inferior to Haydnʼs hit oratorios The Creation and The Seasons.
CD 1
Parte Prima
[1] Sinfonia/Ouverture
[2] Pietà d’un’infelice
[3] Né comparisce, oh Dio!
[4] Sudò il guerriero
[5] Deh modera il dolor – Ah tu m’ascolta
[6] Non è quello Azaria
[7] Anna m’ascolta!
[8] Che disse?
[9] Ah gran Dio
[10] Ah gran Dio!
[11] Sara, mia dolce sposa
[12] Quando mi dona un cenno
[13] Somme grazie ti rendo – Del caro sposo
[14] Rivelarti a Dio piacque
[15] Odi le nostre voci
CD 2
Parte Seconda
[1] Oh della santa fé stupendi effetti!
[2] Come se a voi parlasse
[3] Ad Azaria nel volto
[4] Non parmi esser fra gl’uomini
[5] Che soave parlar!
[6] Quel felice nocchier
[7] Giusta brama l’affretta
[8] Come in sogno un stuol m’apparve
[9] Svanisce in un momento
[10] Ah dove corri, o padre?
[11] Invan lo chiedi, amico
[12] Che fulmine improvviso!
[13] Dunque, oh Dio, quando speraí
[14] Qui di morir si parla
[15] Io non oso alzar le ciglia |
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