Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations - Vivaldi: Farnace (2009)

Farnace was apparently one of Vivaldi's favorite operas because he mounted numerous productions in various cities and wrote six versions of the score, more than of any of his other operas. The conventions of operatic vocal characterizations that came to be standard -- higher voices in the sympathetic roles and lower voices in villainous roles -- had not yet been established, and Farnace features a baritone and contralto in the heroic roles, with a soprano as the villain. Soprano Adriana Fernández shines as the wicked Berenice, who is redeemed at the very last minute. She has a full, creamy voice that she deploys appealing agility and warmth. As Tamira, contralto Sara Mingardo sings with power, authority, and deep feeling. In the title role, baritone Furio Zanasi is appropriately heroic, with a rich, refined timbre and the expressive depth to create sympathy for the conflicted protagonist, but he doesn't always have the necessary strength at the bottom of his range. One of his arias, the lyrical and poignant "Gelido in ogni vena," is among the composer's loveliest creations. The set misidentifies soprano Cinzia Forte as Pompeo. She actually sings Gilade, and admirable soprano Sonia Prina, who sings Pompeo, receives no acknowledgement whatsoever.

Naïve's reissue doesn't include several arias by Francesco Corselli that were inserted in a 1739 performance of the opera in Madrid and were on the original release. The recording uses the 1731 revision of the score, the one Vivaldi had in his possession at his death. At two and a half hours, Vivaldi's opera in its unadulterated form seems long enough, and most listeners aren't likely to lament the lack of Corselli's additions.

Jordi Savall leads his ensemble, Le Concert des Nations, and the Coro del Teatro de la Zarzuela in a sensitive reading of the score. Although the recording was made from live performances, Savall doesn't succeed in creating the kind of dramatic momentum that makes some of Naïve's releases of other Vivaldi operas so thrilling. The result can't be faulted for lack of musical polish or sophistication, but apart from some individual arias, Savall and his forces don't generate much heat. The sound is obviously that of a live performance, with some audience and stage noise, and varying vocal dynamics as the singers move around the stage. -- Stephen Eddins