Giuseppe Corsi (c.1631/1691), known as Celani, was one of the most important composers of the Roman school active in the second half of the 17th century. Corsi's catalogue of works includes around 23 secular compositions including Cantatas for one voice and basso continuo. The protagonist of the cantata Dalle balze sicane is the mythological Enceladus who, having been plunged into the bowels of Mount Etna by the goddess Athena, invokes Jupiter to placate the outrage against him. The character's 'misfortunes' and 'sorrows' of love in Cruda legge del mio fato find analogies with those experienced by the composer. The first aria in this cantata is rich in complex enharmonics, greatly expanded and varied in the repeat, when the voice is engaged in difficult bravura passages. The cantata Abbandonato e solo begins with a veritable monologue from Roman emperor Nero, tormented by his past ghosts. The cantata on this album by Giacomo Antonio Perti (1661-1756), Pompe, voi che ascondete, although attributed to Corsi's favourite pupil, is in fact still of unproven authorship. It is possible that Giuseppe Corsi met Giovanni Battista Vitali (1632-1692). The two composers in 1685 took part in the famous dispute over parallel fifths in Arcangelo Corelli's Sonata Op.2 No.3. The bass of the violin family, of which Vitali was a virtuoso, was widespread thanks to the Este patronage of Duke Francesco I. In his cantatas, Corsi repeatedly insists on the B flat grave, a characteristic of violin bass tuning, and the numerous semiquaver passages are particularly agile on the violone, so it is not unlikely that the composer from Marsica had this instrument in mind. It is also for this reason that Corsi's compositions have been joined by some movements from the Partite sopra diverse sonatas for the violone by Vitali that are particularly pleasing.

Tracklist:

*** Dalle balze sicane, TriCo 58
I. Recitative: Dalle balze sicane
II. Aria: Giove tiranno
III. Recitative: Anneriscon le sfere
IV. Aria: Cieli ingrati
V. Recitative: Disseta pur lo sdegno
VI. Aria: Li ciechi abissi
VII. Recitativo: Tacete, alme
VIII. Aria: Agl'urli tremanti
IX. Aria: Son sorde a danno mio
*** Cruda legge del mio fato, TriCo 57
I. Aria: Cruda legge del mio fato
II. Aria: Mi stracciano le pene
III. Recitativo: Ma non lice al mio core
IV. Aria: Se con note di gioia
V. Recitative: Ed in stato infelice
Vi. Aria: CosÃ¬ confondano
VII. Recitative: Pianger non posso
VIII. Aria: Cruda legge
IX. Recitative and Aria: Or s'Ã¨ pena il tacer
Toccata
Ruggiero
Bergamasco
Chiacona
Me lo volete dire?, TriCo 63a
*** Abbandonato e solo, TriCo 49
I. Recitative: Abbandonato e solo
II. Aria: Quella morte che per gioco
III. Recitative: Ma che miro!
V. Aria: Vieni pur
V. Recitative: Ma no. Merta Nerone
VI. Aria: Contro l'armi dell'inganno
*** Partite sopra diverse Sonate per il violone
Capritio sopra ono figure
Capritio sopra li cinque tempi
Passa Galli
*** Pompe voi che ascondete
I. Recitative: Pompe, voi che ascondete
II. Aria: Perch'io tema bastanti voi siete
III. Aria: Nel profondo cieco mondo

UPC: 5028421966939
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 1.27.23
Format: CD

Celano / Criscuolo / Romabarocca Ensemble - Bass Cantatas (CD)