Sacroprofano

by Tim Mead, Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo

Overview

The interpenetration of sacred and secular music has arguably never been greater than in the works of Antonio Vivaldi. It is true that Bach's cantata dialogues between the soul and God sound romantic indeed, but Bach learned a lot from Vivaldi, who deployed the technique in larger works. One of the best of these is the nine-movement Nisi Dominus, RV 608, which here serves as the solo recording debut of countertenor Tim Mead. He brings an intensely dramatic quality to the Nisi Dominus and the other major sacred work here, one of Vivaldi's Salve regina settings, RV 618. On the "profano" side of the coin are two cantatas for alto voice and orchestra, which allow plenty of space for Mead to display his virtuoso technique. Consider the finale, "Se a me rivolge," from Amor hai vinto, RV 683. In his middle register, Mead tends to have a certain sameness in his sound, but in bringing emotional content to powerful leaps and runs, he marks himself as a countertenor definitively to watch. He gets ideal support from the venerable early music ensemble Arcangelo and director Jonathan Cohen, who contribute a couple of purely instrumental pieces. One may, by the end of this album, wonder exactly what is sacred and what is secular, and there is no question that Mead is a voice that can bring a sensuous quality no matter what the text says. This album appeared on classical best-seller charts in early 2023. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2023
Label:	ALPHA
UPC:	3760014199141

Tracks

1. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Nisi Dominus. Allegro
2. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Vanum est vobis. Largo
3. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Surgite postquam sederitis. Presto
4. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Cum dederit dilectis suis. Andante
5. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Sicut sagittae. Allegro
6. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Beatus vir. Andante
7. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Gloria patri. Larghetto
8. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Sicut erat in principio. Allegro
9. Nisi Dominus RV 608~Amen. Allegro
10. Ripieno Concerto For Strings in D Minor RV 128~Allegro non molto
11. Ripieno Concerto For Strings in D Minor RV 128~Largo
12. Ripieno Concerto For Strings in D Minor RV 128~Allegro
13. Cessate, Omai Cessate RV 684~Recitativo accompagnato Cessate, omai cessate
14. Cessate, Omai Cessate RV 684~Aria Ah Ch'infelice Sempre
15. Cessate, Omai Cessate RV 684~Recitativo Accompagnato A Voi Dunque Ricorro
16. Cessate, Omai Cessate RV 684~Aria Nell'orrido Albergo
17. Salve Regina RV 618~Salve Regina. Andante Molto
18. Salve Regina RV 618~Ad Te Clamamus. Allegro
19. Salve Regina RV 618~Ad Te Suspiramus. Larghetto
20. Salve Regina RV 618~Eia Ergo. Allegro
21. Salve Regina RV 618~Et Jesum Benedictum. Andante
22. Salve Regina RV 618~O Clemens, O Pia. Larghetto
23. Sinfonia in B Minor "Al Santo Sepolcro" RV 169~Adagio molto
24. Sinfonia in B Minor "Al Santo Sepolcro" RV 169~Allegro Ma Poco
25. Amor, Hai Vinto, Hai Vinto RV 683~Recitativo Amor, Hai Vinto
26. Amor, Hai Vinto, Hai Vinto RV 683~Aria Passo Di Pena in Pena
27. Amor, Hai Vinto, Hai Vinto RV 683~Recitativo In che Strano E Confuso
28. Amor, Hai Vinto, Hai Vinto RV 683~Aria Se a Me Rivolge Il Ciglio

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tim Mead   Primary Artist,Counter Tenor (Vocal)
Jonathan Cohen   Primary Artist,Conductor
Arcangelo   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Didier Martin   Director

Technical Credits

Delphine Malik   Liner Note Translation
Richard Bastable   Text Translation
Andrew Staples   Cover Photo
Susanne Lowien   Liner Note Translation
Adrian Peacock   Editing,Mastering,Recording Producer
Michael Talbot   Liner Notes
Mike Stone   Photography
Valerie Lagarde   Design
Simon Neal   Keyboard Technician
Adrian Chandler   Text Translation
Claire Boisteau   Booklet Supervisor
Amelie Boccon-Gibod   Editorial Coordinator
Aurore Duhamel   Artwork
Dave Hinitt   Engineer
Louise Burel   Producer
Antonio Vivaldi   Composer
Luigi Cataldi   Text Translation