Julia Doyle, Carlos Mena, Alejandro Casal - Rabassa: Astro Nuevo (2020) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

The Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla, in collaboration with several universities, researches valuable repertoire linked to the history of Andalusia. This Proyecto Atalaya has already produced a series of CDs with unknown jewels, which have been released on Passacaille. On this new album called Astro Nuevo we can rediscover works by Pedro Rabassa (1683-1767). As a faithful musical partner of the orchestra, conductor Enrico Onofri proves once again that he can bring back to life music that has been completely forgotten, as if it had just been composed freshly for the orchestra. The result is sparkling, precise and convincing in every aspect. On this album the Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla is joined by Julia Doyle (soprano) and Carlos Mena (countertenor) as soloists.

Since 2005 the Atalaya Project has, under the auspices of the Andalusian Regional Government’s Council for Knowledge, Research and University, brought together the ten public Andalusian universities to cooperate towards the promotion of various cultural initiatives of the utmost interest. One of them, Andalusian Musical Heritage, aims to recover and disseminate unpublished works from our rich musical heritage, as well as to assist in the consolidation of music ensembles at the university level.

The 2018/2019 academic year marks the tenth anniversary of the University of Seville leading this program. From the very beginning, it has collaborated closely with the Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla, who has also been responsible for carrying out the musicological research, selection, transcription, critical review, and sound recording for this CD. As has been the case every previous year, this project has also taken the orchestra on a series of concerts through Andalusian university campuses.

As rector of the University of Seville, I am proud to be able to contribute to this valuable dissemination of a musical heritage testifying to the great level of composers who originated from or were active in Andalusia yet remain all but unknown. By recording some of this research and simultaneously publishing the music contained therein, these previously inaccessible cultural riches are finally brought to the general public. This project focuses on the works of Jaime Balius, Antonio Ripa and Joseph Barrera (musicians who worked at the cathedrals of Cordoba, Seville and Malaga), and is complemented with a version of Haydn’s Symphony No. 44 found at the archive of the Seville Cathedral. As in previous occasions, the inaugural concert which took place in December 2013 at the Church of the Annunciation in Seville was broadcast and recorded, and performed once again at Santa Clara de Moguer Convent (under the auspices of UNIA [International Andalusian University]) and at the San Jerónimo Monastery as part of the cultural programming of the University of Granada.

The task before us is still immense. Yet giving this unjustly neglected part of our culture its due is as exciting as it is essential. (Miguel Ángel Castro Arroyo, Rector of the University of Seville)

TRACKLIST

1. Julia Doyle - Astro Nuevo: I. Area, "Astro nuevo" - II. Recitado, "A la esphera divina" - III. Area, "Pura rosa" - IV. Recitativo, "En obscuro velo" - V. Area, "Qué dichoso es" - VI. Adagio, "Ay! que me muero" (Cantata al Santísimo con violines)
2. Carlos Mena - Tercera Lamentación de Viernes Santo: Aleph. Ego vir videns - Beth. Vetustam fe - Ghimel. Circumaedificavit
3. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Cantada "A del brillante cóncavo": Recitado, "Así como en aquel capitán fuerte" - Area, "Si recatada, si traslúcida"
4. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Villancico al Nacimiento de Cristo: I. Introducción, "Corred, corred, pastores" - II. Recitado, "Corred, que presuroso" - III. Aria, "Dexa fuente de correr"
5. Enrico Onofri - Eternamente triste: I. Recitado, "Horroroso infernal fiero enemigo" - II. Aria, "Eternamente triste" (Cantada a solo a la Purísima Concepción)
6. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Sonata para clave: I. Giusto
7. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Sonata para clave: II. Allegro
8. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Sonata para clave: III. Adagio
9. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Sonata para clave: IV. Allegro
10. Orquesta Barroca de Sevilla - Voy buscando a mi cordero: I. Recitado, "Qué es esto dulce dueño de mi vida" - II. Aria, "Voy buscando a mi cordero" (Cantada a solo al Santísimo Sacramento)



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