Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Early Years | 20110805 | 20110718 | Donald Macleod explores Cavalli's early compositions, including the Cantate Domino of 1625 Donald Macleod explores Cavalli's life and music, covering a broad range of his early music, from sacred to secular, whilst charting the composer's early origins and evolving career in Venice. Didone (Act 1 finale) Mediterraneo Concento Sergio Vartolo (conductor) Naxos, 8.557746, Track 1 Salve Regina Andrew Wright (organ) Choir of Westminster Cathedral Stephen Cleobury (conductor) Decca 4887162, Track 9 Cantate Domino Lia Serafini (soprano) Il Viaggio Musicale Tactus TC590001, Track 2 Canzona a 4 The Parley of Instruments Peter Holman (director) Hyperion CDA66970, Track 6 Magnificat Veronika Kincses, Eva Andor (soprano) Eva Jablonkay, Katalin Seregelly (alto) Attila Fulop, Janos B Nagy (tenor) Laszlo Polgar, Endre Uto (bass) Bela Bartok Chorus Orchestra of the Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest Gabor Baross (conductor) Hungaroton HCD12920, Track 19. La calisto (excerpt from Act 3) Alessandra Mantovani (soprano) Maria Bayo (soprano) Graham Pushee (countertenor) Marcello Lippi (baritone) Simon Keenlyside (baritone) Concerto Vocale Rene Jacobs (director) Harmonia Mundi HMC 901515.17, Disk 3, tracks 10-15 |
| 03 | An International Composer | 20110720 | Donald Macleod considers Cavalli's rise to fame through the early stages of Italian opera. Donald Macleod considers Cavalli's period as a prolific and trendsetting composer of opera, popularising the emerging combination of aria and recitative, as well as the lament. Muzio Scevola (excerpt from Act 1) Glenda Simpson (mezzo-soprano) London Early Music Group James Tyler (director) Hyperion CDA66153 track 6 Gli amori d'Apollo e di Dafne (excerpt from Act 2) Assumpta Mateu, Fabiola Masino (soprano) Luisa Maesso (mezzo-soprano) Mario Zeffiri (tenor) Orquesta Joven de la Sinfonica de Galicia Alberto Zedda (director) Naxos 8.660187 disk 2 tracks 1-2 La Didone (Act 1, Sc 6) Yvonne Kenny (soprano) Hilary Summers (mezzo-soprano) Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble Thomas Hengelbrock (director) Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472773542, disk 1 track 8 Egisto (excerpt from Act 2) Hyperion CDA66153, track 8 L'ormindo (excerpt from Act 1) Hugues Cuenod (tenor) Glyndebourne Festival Opera London Philharmonic Orchestra Raymond Leppard (director) Decca 444529-2, disk 1 track 6 Giasone (excerpt from Act 1) Gloria Banditelli (mezzo-soprano) Michael Schopper (bass) Chorus and Concerto Vocale Rene Jacobs (director) Harmonia Mundi HMC 901282.84, disk 1, track 16 La Calisto (excerpt from Act 1) Dominique Visse (countertenor) Gilles Ragon, Barry Banks (tenor) David Pittsinger (bass) Concerto Vocale Harmonia Mundi HMC901515.17 diSk 1, tracks 19-22 | |
| 04 | An Invitation From Cardinal Mazarin | 20110721 | Donald Macleod explores the demise of Cavalli's career in opera. Donald Macleod explores the composer's ill-fated visit to France in 1660 - when he was invited to compose an opera for the marriage of Louis XIV - and his operatic career's subsequent demise. Orimonte (excerpt) Xerse (excerpt) Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano) Scottish Chamber Orchestra Raymond Leppard (conductor) Erato EDC88100, track 8 Ercole Amante (Prologue) Jean-Denis Monory (narrator) Francoise Masset, Celine Ricci (soprano) Francois-Nicolas Geslot (countertenor) Florian Westphal (bass) Le Choeur du Marais La Simphonie du Marais Hugo Reyne (director) Erato EDC88100, track 6 Eliogabalo (excerpt from Act 1) Andrew King (tenor) London Early Music Group James Tyler (director) Hyperion CDA66153, track 3 Statira, Principessa di Persia (excerpt from Act 2) Maria Ercolano, Maria Grazia Schiavo, Roberta Andalo (soprano) Giuseppe de Vittorio, Rosario Totaro (tenor) Cappella de'Turchini Antonio Florio (director) Naïve OP30382, disk 2 tracks 7-9 Ormindo (excerpt from Act 2) Anne Howells (mezzo-soprano) John Wakefield (tenor) Federico Davia (bass) Glyndebourne Festival Opera London Philharmonic Orchestra Raymond Leppard (director) Decca 444529-2, disk 2 track 10-11 | |
| 05 LAST | 20110722 | Donald Macleod explores Cavalli's last sacred work: the requiem he wrote for his funeral. Donald Macleod explores Cavalli's last sacred work, the requiem he composed for his own funeral, and his highly detailed will, which not only provided precise requirements for his annual memorial service, but also for the distribution of his lucrative estate. Son ancor pargoletta Gerard Souzay (tenor) Dalton Baldwin (piano) Claves CD 50-2412, track 1 Missa pro defunctis Paolo Zuccheri, Riccardo Coelati (violins) Vittorio Zanon (organ) Cantica Symphonia Giuseppe Maletto (director) Stradivarius STR 33665, track 6, 7-8, 9-10, 12-13 |