Background
Benedetto Marcello was born on July 31, 1686, in Venice, he was a member of a noble family.
(Though a nobleman by birth, Benedetto Marcello was a seri...)
Though a nobleman by birth, Benedetto Marcello was a serious amateur composer who wrote in many of the genres of his day. This 3 CD set focuses on his 12 concertos for strings and 5 sinfonias, both dating from the latter half of his composing career. What Benedetto's work lacked in compositional virtuosity they made up for in sheer inventiveness and quirky detail. A captivating release that documents the early development of two important forms with extraordinary playing by I solisti di Milano.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007WB5CLW/?tag=2022091-20
(VOCES8 and Les Inventions shine a light on a hidden music...)
VOCES8 and Les Inventions shine a light on a hidden musical treasure in these world-premiere recordings of Charles Avisons 1757 adaptation of Benedetto Marcellos 1724-26 magnum opus Estro-poetico armonico, settings of the first fifty Psalms of David as paraphrased by the poet Girolamo Ascanio Giustiniani. In addition to the subtle deployment of vocal resources, and his imaginative use of musical techniques to illustrate the texts, Marcello brought to these psalms a peculiar quality of freshness and originality that unquestionably contributed to their becoming a major international success, so demonstrated by the works rapid translation into many other languages, as well as by the enthusiasm with which these settings were embraced by performers of a variety of religious traditions including Anglican, Lutheran and Jewish.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0127WVMMI/?tag=2022091-20
(In his satirical introduction to The Beggars' Opera of 17...)
In his satirical introduction to The Beggars' Opera of 1728, John Gay claims that he "introduced the similes that are in your celebrated operas: the Swallow, the Moth, the Bee, the Ship, the Flower...and I have observed such nice impartiality to our two ladies that it is impossible for either of them to take offence." He might equally well have been referring to Marcello's charming Arianna (1726), which does indeed employ the usual Metastasian similes in the arias, and has two plum female roles for Arianna and her sister, Fedra (Phaedra). But--as with many things--it ain't what you do, it's the way you do it, and Arianna rings the changes in highly enjoyable ways. The plot brings Teseo (Theseus) and Arianna back together to fight over his betrayal, for example, and even by the end, no one has left Naxos. Some of the music is formulaic (especially the "trumpets and drums" choruses), but much of it is beautiful, and one aria ("Come mai puoi vedermi piàngere?") is absolutely ravishing. The performers all have young, fresh voices, and though the recitatives are a little underpowered dramatically, the arias carry the energy of the piece. --Warwick Thompson
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TD4Z/?tag=2022091-20
(Although a nobleman by birth, Benedetto Marcello was also...)
Although a nobleman by birth, Benedetto Marcello was also a serious amateur composer whose influence reached long beyond his time. This compilation focuses on his 12 Sonatas Op.2 for solo flute and basso continuo. Elegantly performed by the players of Trio Legrenzi, these recordings are a fine addition to the Newton Classics catalogue.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007N0SVXS/?tag=2022091-20
advocate composer politician writer poet
Benedetto Marcello was born on July 31, 1686, in Venice, he was a member of a noble family.
Marcello was a music student of Lotti and Gasparini.
In 1711 he was a member of the Venetian Council of Forty and in 1730 went to Pola (Istria) as governor. After eight years he retired to Brescia as papal chamberlain. His compositions include operas, oratorios, cantatas, concerti, and sonatas. He was also a poet and translated John Dryden’s Timotheus as a text for one of his own cantatas and wrote a libretto for G. Ruggeri’s opera Arato in Sparta (1709).
The celebrated Concerto in D Minor for oboe and strings, long attributed to Benedetto, is now known to have been composed by his brother, Alessandro (1684–1750).
Benedetto Giacomo Marcello died of tuberculosis on July 24, 1739.
(VOCES8 and Les Inventions shine a light on a hidden music...)
(In his satirical introduction to The Beggars' Opera of 17...)
(Although a nobleman by birth, Benedetto Marcello was also...)
(Though a nobleman by birth, Benedetto Marcello was a seri...)
(Marcello, Benedetto - Two Sonatas (in C Major and G Major...)
(Chur Athesis - Academia de li Musici - Filipo Maria Bres...)
Quotations: "If the audience never understands the plot, it can be counted on to be attentive to the very end. "
In 1711, Benedetto Marcello became a member of the Venetian Council of Forty.
On May 20, 1728, Benedetto Marcello married his singing student, Rosanna Scalfi, in a secret ceremony. They did not have children.