Il Pomo d’Oro and counter-tenor Jakub Jozef Orliński form a Theseus thread though a trio of discs we will examine in turn: Gluck’s opera Orfeo & Euridice with Orlinski (and Elsa Dreisig and Fatima Said) Beyond, Orliński’s solo disc with Il Pomo d’Oro, and Michael Spyres’ disc Contra-Tenor (again with Il Pomo do’Oo and again on Erato).
It is amazing to have Gluck’s opera on one disc (one CD, lasting 84’44). Even better that the performance is this fine. The orchestra here is Il Giardino Armonico, under Stefan Plewniak (who we met twice before, in Haydn Symphonies Nos. 6-8 and in Vivaldi’s 12 Concerti di Parigi, both from Versailles).
Gluck’s opera is heard in its 1762 version. In many ways this is the Orlinski show, but Il Pomo d’Oro give him a run for his money (in the passages before his act I aria, “Chiamo il bio ben così,” for example). But Fatima Said’s Amore is as fine as any, her “Gli sgaurdi” light and full of florid decorations:
The change of orchestral tintà for the opening of the second act is remarkable (the “Ballo di Furie e Spettri” – not to be confused with the act III ballet). The expressivity of the suspensions is extreme, and incredibly involving.Orlinski’s phrasing is remarkable
We all know ‘Che farò Euridice’; but Euridice’s earlier “Che fiero momeno” from the final act is remarkable here, and Dreisig proves herself a worthy counterpart to Orliński (don’t forget her amazing Michaela Carmen in Strasbourg, plus her disc of Mozart arias on Erato). Here’s that aria:
The “Che farò” itself is simply lovely – Erato released a promo video of this, and here it is:
The idea of an opera on one disc strengthens the idea of a through-composed journey to that great moment. Recording quality is superb, as is packaging (including full tex but not translation).
Absolutely recommended.
The disc is available from Amazon here, at 18% off at he time of writing.
