Porpora/ Martorana - Cantatas for Soprano

Most of Porpora's cantatas, veritable master classes of vocal composition - are found in the 1735 collection, published in London and dedicated to Frederic, Prince of Wales. This disc, however, also presents three of an unknown date; while Venticel che tra la frondi and Il Vulcano can be traced back to Porpora's time in Venice (the former in particular contains similarities to his Venetian sacred music), Il Ritiro is likely to be the most modern, carefully reconstructed from a collation of various possible manuscripts. At any rate, these cantatas are a testimony to the composer's reputation as one of the most important and influential musicians of the 18th century. Recorded in April 2012, Villa San Fermo, Lonigo, Vicenza, Italy. The Italian elite band "I Virtuosi Italiani" play original instruments. Maria Laura Martorana possesses all the qualities required for an effective performance of this music: effortless and brilliant vocal technique, capable of the most daunting vocal acrobatics, and a passionate and dramatic temper, conveying the strong emotions expressed in these Baroque Cantatas.