BIO: Giovanni Legrenzi (Bergamo, 1626 - Venezia, 1690) Giovanni Legrenzi was an Italian composer of opera, vocal and instrumental music, and organist, of the Baroque era. He was one of the most prominent composers in Venice in the late 17th century, and extremely influential on the development of late Baroque idioms across northern Italy. Legrenzi served as organist at Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo from 1645 to 1656. After this years he became Maestro di cappella at Ferrara’s academy, where he remained until 1665 and in 1685 has been appointed Maestro di cappella di San Marco in Venice. Among his students there were Francesco Gasparini, Antonio Lotti and Giovanni Varischino. Legrenzi was active in most of the genres current in northern Italy in the late 17th century, including sacred vocal music, opera, oratorio, and varieties of instrumental music. Though best known as a composer of instrumental sonatas, he was predominantly a composer of liturgical music with a distinctly dramatic character. The bulk of his instrumental music may also be included in this category, since it would have been used primarily as a substitute for liturgical items at Mass or Vespers. His operas were immensely popular (and extravagantly presented) in their day, though like his oratorios, few have survived. Riccardo Favero, who has achieved his diploma in piano, harpsichord, organ and organ composition, showed a marked interest in early music from the very beginning. His encounters with M. R. Saidlofer of the Academy of Figurative Arts and Music in Vienna, with Aldo Ciccolini, Patrizia Marisaldi and with Ton Koopman were fundamental for him. He is the winner of several international competitions. With Oficina Musicum, an instrumental and vocal group which he created and which brings out the value of the stylistic elements of the Italian tradition, he works with a repertoire ranging from the renaissance to classicism, devoting much of his activity to rediscovering lesser-known Italian composers, using a rigorous philological interpretation. He has an intense concert programme both in Italy and abroad; he has worked with numerous orchestras and has taken part in international festivals. His many recordings are known all over the world, and have obtained official recognition from critics. For many years he has been a student of lute and organ building and plays instruments which he makes himself.
STRONG POINTS: - World premiere recording - Beautiful execution by a true Venetian ensemble with old instruments. - The Cd is fully dedicated to this composer - A milestone within the poor discography presently available - Not to be missed by baroque music lovers
Track List: MESSA A 4 VOCI E DOI VIOLINI 1 Kyrie 05:48 2 Gloria 14:08 3 Credo 13:49
VESPERAE SOLEMNES DE CONFESSORE: 1 Intonatio: Deus in adiutorium 00:12 2 Domine ad adiuvandum me festina 04:05 3 Antiphona: Ideo iure iurando 00:25 4 Dixit Dominus 08:58 5 Antiphona: Ideo iure iurando 00:27 6 Antiphona: Spiritu 00:24 7 Confitebor tibi Domine 10:14 8 Sonata ”La Bevilacqua” 04:55 9 Antiphona: Serve bone et fidelis 00:22 10 Beatus vir 07:15 11 Antiphona: Serve bone et fidelis 00:21 12 Antiphona: Non vos me elegistis 00:35 13 Laudate pueri 06:59 14 Antiphona: Non vos me elegistis 00:39 15 Antiphona: Beati servi illi 00:27 16 Laudate Dominum 02:49 17 Sonata ”La Mosta” 04:39 18 Hymnus: Iste confessor 02:31 19 Antiphona ad Magnificat: Euge serve bone 00:45 20 Magnificat 09:36 21 Antiphona: Euge serve bone 00:51
Musical concerts for Church use Op.1 Messa & Vespro
