Pergolesi: Adriano in Siria [Blu-ray] [2012]

You might not have heard of Pergolesi's Adriano in Siria, but the chances are that if you've any familiarity with Baroque opera, you will at least have heard of Pietro Metastasio, the poet and dramatist responsible for librettos that were used and reused in literally hundreds of early compositions (Adriano in Siria had already been set to music several times before Pergolesi) - and if that's the case then you will have a fair idea of what to expect from the development of the plot and its treatment in an opera seria work. Historically or classically based but more romantically inclined, Metastasio's librettos often feature a powerful king or ruler who is usually in love with a woman who is engaged to be married to another man. There are often a few additional variable complications that lead to confrontations between each of the principal figures during the recitative, with long heartfelt, reflective and repetitive virtuoso arias of despair, anger, love and compassion, according to the turn of events. What distinguishes the adapting any Metastasio's libretto to music is of course the interpretation of the composer, and in this case Pergolesi's handling of this fairly dry and static dramatic material is every bit as brilliant and enchanting as Handel, Gluck or Mozart.

There doesn't appear to be any attempt to impose a modern reworking or concept onto the opera, which is played and performed in this 2010 production at the composer's home town of Jesi in a quite traditional manner. The all-purpose, generic, classical ruins of antiquity can nonetheless be seen as metaphorical of the romantic conflict that takes place. The metaphors work best however in the libretto itself, with birds of prey and birds in captivity featuring, not least in Farnaspe's gorgeous aria at the end of Act I, `Lieto così tal volta' ("At times the nightingale is heard, still happily singing in its captivity"), which, sung by Annamaria dell'Oste with an onstage solo oboe accompaniment that evokes birdsong, gives an indication of the beauty and the wholeness of the production, singing, music and libretto working together in perfect harmony.

Elsewhere the musical arrangements perfectly reflect the nature of the characters and their emotional state at any given time. Later parts of the libretto make reference to tempests and torments (emotional as well as meteorological) and the Accademia Bizantina appropriately whip up a storm in the pit with a huge sound from what appears to be only an 18-piece orchestra. When contrasted with the aforementioned `Lieto così tal volta', you get a sense of the whole dynamic of Adriano in Siria, which is sung simply and beautifully by all the performers, with da capo but no excessive ornamentation.

If that's not enough on its own, you get two works for the price of one here that demonstrate the range and innovation of Pergolesi. A comic opera Intermezzo would often be performed in the breaks between acts, and one of Pergolesi's buffa operas, 'Livietto e Tracollo', composed for a Neapolitan audience, is included in this performance in two parts in the intervals between the acts of Adriano in Siria as it would originally have been presented. There's very little plot to speak of here either, just disguises and farce as Livietto sets a trap for a notorious thief Tracollo and ends up marrying him, but it has two good parts for singers and they are entertainingly delivered with gusto and plenty of comic gesticulation by Monica Bacelli and Carlo Lepore.

The Blu-ray release for Opus Arte looks and sounds terrific, with a clear, sharp colourful transfer, the music and singing superbly reproduced in both the PCM Stereo and the DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 tracks with crystal clarity and depth of tone, capturing the detail of the instruments and the ambience of the old theatre. Extras include a Cast Gallery and an Interview with conductor Ottavio Dantone. The inner booklet notes the intention of the Pergolesi Spontini Foundation to record and issue all of Pergolesi's surviving operas on DVD, which, if this first release is anything to go by, will be highly anticipated.

I can hardly add to the other 5 star review. A masterly production with beautiful singing. A treasure restored in as close as authentic manner as is possible. Refreshing! After hearing this I am convinced that one of the greatest tragedies that befell opera was that Pergolesi died so young

I was very pleased with this DVD purchase in particular there is a 'Great Beast of a soprano' on disc two,dressed as a prince,who walks out into the audience singing an aria,that they are almost afraid to applaud!She has another great aria on disc one; THere are a couple of other fine soprano arias,& the tenor is very good.