Kraus: La Primavera (kermes, Ehrhardt)
) | Label: PHOENIX Catalog: 101 Format: CD Simone Kermes - Soprano, L'Arte del Mondo Orchestra, Werner Erhardt - Conductor1. 'Olympie' Overture Joseph Haydn named him as “one of the greatest geniuses that I have known”: The Mozart contemporary Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792) has for a long time now no longer been regarded as a “lesser master”. This is above all to be ascribed to the unremitting commitment of WERNER EHRHARDT, who for many years has assertively promoted the music. On this new SACD a “summit meeting” takes place with SIMONE KERMES, the young and exceptional soprano. Together with the ensemble L’ARTE DEL MONDO the pair have dug out the four cantatas La Scusa (1777) VB 43, La Pesca (1779) VB 44, La Gelosia (1780) VB 46 and La Primavera (1790) VB 47. That these fascinating solo dramas en miniature have been scarcely taken notice of up to now may have its reasons in the risky difficulties with which Kraus peppered these works. It so happens that he composed them in his capacity as Swedish court composer for the prima donna there, FRU AUGUSTI, whose strengths were breathtaking coloraturas at dizzying heights. SIMONE KERMES is no less competent than her famous predecessor. Her virtuosity and musical sense make melodic jewels out of these forgotten cantatas. In the tradition of the great vocal virtuosos SIMONE KERMES has enriched the cantatas with her own cadences. Whole Note Discoveries - September 2008  Price: $20.98 |