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Il ritorno d'Ulisse is unquestionably one of the three pillars that place Monteverdi among the greatest of opera composers; this recording marks the premiere of a new performing version by Martin Pearlman.
Portuguese tenor and baroque specialist Fernando Guimarães stars in the title role, alongside the internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Jennifer Rivera as his loving wife Penelope. Il ritorno d'Ulisse was a relatively recent discovery, but following its authentication in the 1950s and revivals in Vienna and Glyndebourne, the opera has enjoyed new found popularity. Martin Pearlman's new performing version benefits from the same attention to detail that has ensured his reputation as a leading champion of period performance. His highly considered approach to all aspects of the score and performance ensure this version is true to Monteverdi's original vision. With a libretto drawing from Homer's Odyssey,Il ritorno d'Ulisse is a riveting human drama with an enviable cast.
Il ritorno d'Ulisse is unquestionably one of the three pillars that place Monteverdi among the greatest of opera composers; this recording marks the premiere of a new performing version by Martin Pearlman.
Portuguese tenor and baroque specialist Fernando Guimarães stars in the title role, alongside the internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Jennifer Rivera as his loving wife Penelope. Il ritorno d'Ulisse was a relatively recent discovery, but following its authentication in the 1950s and revivals in Vienna and Glyndebourne, the opera has enjoyed new found popularity. Martin Pearlman's new performing version benefits from the same attention to detail that has ensured his reputation as a leading champion of period performance. His highly considered approach to all aspects of the score and performance ensure this version is true to Monteverdi's original vision. With a libretto drawing from Homer's Odyssey,Il ritorno d'Ulisse is a riveting human drama with an enviable cast.
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IN THE PRESS:
>> The singing cast is excellent, too. Fernando Guimarães is magnificent as Ulisse himself. His voice is passionate, ardent and fully committed, a delight in this role which he makes sound totally human. His mannerisms are technically very impressive too. He knows and loves the style of the period, which makes him a first-rate travelling companion for Pearlman's vision. | Simon Thompson - MusicWeb International >> Singing the title rôle, Portuguese tenor Fernando Guimarães is a revelation. Compared with several of the singers who have recorded Ulisse, especially the baritones, Guimarães's voice is light for the music, but the dividends paid by his artistic investment enrich the performance considerably. (…) Ulisse has fared well on recordings, amassing fine performances from burly ‘modern' voices as well as Early Music specialists, but Guimarães sets new standards of technical achievement and the simple but impalpable art of bel canto. | Joseph A. Newsome - Voix des Arts >> The opera's distribution is excellent. Portuguese tenor and baroque specialist Fernando Guimarães is a wonderful Ulisse.” | Rémy Franck - Pizzicato >> Fernando Guimarães as a multi-dimensional Ulisse exploits his rich middle register. | David Vickers - Gramophone >> Fernando Guimarães sings Ulisse with feeling, intelligence, and an appealing light baritenor. | Robert Levine - Classics Today >> A splendid Boston Baroque recording of Martin Pearlman's own new edition of the opera, released by Linn Records, shows this work to be richly textured and - thanks to fine performances by tenor Fernando Guimarães as Ulisse and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Rivera as Penelope - emotionally trenchant. (…) ...the youthful cast here is particularly fine, with Guimarães tremendously moving in the recognition scene with Telemachus. | InfoDad >> Jennifer Rivera (Penelope) and Fernando Guimaraes (Ulisse) both give fine performances in their emotionally wrought roles. | Andrew Benson-Wilson - Early Music Review |
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