Cavalli/ Sfera Armoniosa/ Fentross - L'ipermestra

Working in 17th-century Venice soon after the world's first public opera houses opened there, composer Francesco Cavalli had no tradition to follow. He gave his fertile imagination free rein, tinkering with the brand-new art form to create the lively Venetian style of opera, with it's melodious arias, sprightly dance rhythms, free-wheeling mythological or historical plots and generous dollops of comedy. Like most of Cavalli's operas, I'lpermestra wasn't performed between the late 17th century and recent years. I'lpermestra was written on the occasion of the birth of King Philip IV of Spain's first son in 1658. It was one of the most magnificent operas to have ever been staged. This is the world premiere recording of the opera, made after a live stage performance in Utrecht in 2006.