Il Boemo [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by Philippe Jaroussky, EmoÌke Barath, Vaclav Luks, Collegium 1704

Overview

Il Boemo ("The Bohemian") was composer Josef Myslivecek, who was close to the Mozart family. This Czech film appears to be based partly on unsubstantiated gossip included in the Mozart family correspondence, but Myslivecek had a pretty interesting life, even leaving hypothetical romantic intrigue aside; he worked for some years as a miller before turning to composition and, like Mozart in his later years, he was a pure freelancer. His nose was destroyed in a botched surgical effort to alleviate his syphilis symptoms. The film is a project of director Petr Vaclav and Collegium 1704 conductor Vaclav Luks, and it is partly aimed at raising the profile of Myslivecek, which remains low, at least outside Czech-lands. Myslivecek wrote 26 operas, 55 symphonies, and numerous other works, and Mozart admired him. Myslivecek's symphonies have been recorded from time to time, but his all-important operatic output, all of it in Italian and in the opera seria form, has not, and therein lies the substantial general interest of this recording. Among the operas is an "Adamo ed Eva." Many of the arias here sound a good deal like Mozart, with the uncanny simplicity Mozart so often had, rather than the big, ornate sound of the usual opera seria. Then, one realizes that he was doing this before Mozart learned to sound like himself (Myslivecek died in 1781). Sample the aria "Il caro mio bene" from the 1780 opera Armida (which failed and sank Myslivecek's previously soaring fortunes). Luks assembles a fine group of mostly Eastern European singers, of whom Simona Saturova in this aria is a representative example; the veteran countertenor Philippe Jaroussky also makes multiple appearances. Under Luks, Collegium 1704 manages an idiomatically sweet Classical-era sound, something that still eludes many groups specializing in the Baroque. Essential for Mozart enthusiasts, this release is enjoyable listening for anyone and may well contribute to the filmmakers' goals; one hopes that the film achieves wide distribution so that album listeners can hear the arias in place. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	08/25/2023
Label:	ERATO
UPC:	5054197238147

Tracks

1. Ezio~I. Allegro con spirito
2. Ezio~II. Andantino affettuoso
3. Ezio~III. Presto
4. Demetrio~Sarete al fin contenti...
5. Demetrio~Mi parea del porto in seno
6. L' Olimpiade~Con questo ferro...
7. L' Olimpiade~Gemo in un punto e fremo
8. Adamo ed Eva~Non so se il mio peccato
9. Il Bellerofonte~Pria ch'io perda
10. L' Olimpiade~Mentre dormi
11. Il Demofoonte~Sperai vicino il lido
12. L' Olimpiade~Che non mi disse un di?
13. Il Demofoonte~Palesar vorrei col pianto
14. Demetrio~Nacqui agli affani in seno
15. Armida~Il caro mio bene
16. Romolo ed Ersilia~Deh in vita ti serba
17. L' Olimpiade~Misero me! Che veggo!
18. L' Olimpiade~Intese tutto Aristea?
19. L' Olimpiade~Se cerca, se dice

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Philippe Jaroussky   Primary Artist,Counter Tenor (Vocal)
Emőke Barath   Primary Artist,Soprano (Vocal)
Vaclav Luks   Primary Artist,Conductor
Collegium 1704   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Sophie Harmsen   Mezzo-Soprano (Vocal)
Juan Sancho   Tenor (Vocal)
Benno Schachtner   Counter Tenor (Vocal)
Simona Saturova   Soprano (Vocal)
Raffaella Milanesi   Soprano (Vocal)
Erwin Wieringa   Horn
Krystian Adam   Tenor (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Giuseppe Bonecchi   Librettist
Giovanni Granelli   Librettist
Giovanni Ambrogio Migliavacca   Librettist
Jan Macola   Executive Producer
Petra Johana Poncarova   Liner Notes
Richard Hodonicky   Photography
Josef Myslivecek   Composer
Jean-Marie Geijsen   Engineer
Erdo Groot   Mixing,Editing,Recording Producer
Philippe Quinault   Librettist
Christiane Frobenius   Liner Note Translation
Daniel E. Freeman   Liner Notes
Pietro Metastasio   Librettist