L Incoronazione Di Poppea (4 CD)

Megjelenés: 1974-10-10

Claudio Monteverdi: L’Incoronazione di Poppea

Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
for the singers see below

Teldec / Das alte Werk (4 CDs, stereo); ℗ 1974/75 / © 1993
total duration: 215’21”

The singers in this recording are:

• Jane Gartner (Fortuna, Damigella, Pallade)
• Rotraud Hansmann (Virtù, Drusilla)
• Soloist of the Vienna Boys’ Choir (Amore)
• Helen Donath (Poppea)
• Elisabeth Söderström (Nerone)
• Cathy Berberian (Ottavia)
• Paul Esswood (Ottone)
• Giancarlo Luccardi (Seneca, Tribuni)
• Maria Minetto (Nutrice)
• Carlo Gaifa (Arnalta, Famigliari di Seneca)
• Philip Langridge (Lucano, Famigliari di Seneca, Consoli, Due soldati)
• Enrico Fissore (Famigliari di Seneca, Consoli, Tribuni, Littore, Mercurio)
• Kurt Equiluz (Consoli, Liberto capitano, Due soldati)
• Margaret Baker (Valletto)

The the number of roles for a single singer, and their combination (e.g., Fortuna + Damigella + Pallade, Virtù + Drusilla, and most other combinations) make me think that this can impossibly be based on a “real” stage performance, where these combined roles would defy all credibility. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle had good reasons to tell Harnoncourt (straight into the face) that he didn’t like these production, and that he found them academic! Also, this being an unabridged production, with over 3.5 hours, stage directors are likely to consider it too long to be feasible.