Monteverdi: Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (1/3) - Hollweg, Schmidt, Equiluz

High resolution and stereo sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZgqivymggQ&fmt=18

Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, SV 153
dramatic cantata (from Book 8 of Madrigals)

Composed by Claudio Monteverdi
Text: Torquato Tasso "Gerusalemme Liberata", XII, 52-62; 64-68

In this recording:

Testo: Werner Hollweg, tenor
Clorinda: Trudeliese Schmidt, soprano
Tancredi: Kurt Equiluz, tenor

Concentus Musicus Wien,
conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Teldec, 1984


"To tell the truth, before this radical version of Harnoncourt's, the Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda had not really been brought to life on disc, despite two or three gratifying versions which gave us the illusion that we were seeing clearly or that a veil had been pierced to reveal, more or less, the true genius of Monteverdi's engagement in the 'representative' genre. In fact, Harnoncourt was the first to see in the Combattimento a drama needing the whole of opera's armoury in order to come to life. For him, there is no demarcation line between Orfeo, L'Incoronazione di Poppea and this theatrical cantata (or madrigal). [...] Thus, he chooses for the recitation of the Testo -a role played by a staggering and raving Werner Hollweg -abrupt spoken effects directly borrowed from Sprechgesang." - Roger TELLART

Rest of the article in English:
http://www.goldberg-magazine.com/en/discography/1984/4595.php

Original article in French:
http://www.goldberg-magazine.com/fr/discography/1984/6595.php


Translation of this part, by John Hoole:

52
Eager he burn'd to prove her force in fight,
esteem'd a warrior worthy of his might,
her sex unknown. And now the virgin went
a winding way along the hill's ascent:
impetuous he pursu'd, but ere he came,
his clashing armour rous'd th'unwary dame.
Then turning swift: What bring'st thou here? (she cry'd)
Lo! war and death I bring ! (the chief reply'd)

53
Then war and death (the virgin said) I give;
what thou to me wouldst bring, from me receive!
Intrepid then she stay'd; the knight drew near;
but when he saw the foe on foot appear,
he left his steed to meet in equal war.
Now with drawn swords they rush the fight to wage:
with fury thus too jealous bulls engage.

54
What glorious deeds on either part were done,
that claim'd an open field and conscious sun!
Thou, night! whose envious veil with dark disguise,
conceal'd the warrior's acts from human eyes,
permit me from thy gloom to snatch their fame,
and give to future times each mighty name;
so shall they shine, from age to age display'd,
for glories won beneath thy sable shade!

55
All art in fight the dusky hour denies,
and fury now the place of skill supplies.
The meeting swords with horrid clangor sound:
each whirls the falchion, each maintains the ground:
alternate furies either breast inflame,
alternate vengeance and alternate shame.

56
No pause, no rest, th'impatient warriors know,
but rage to rage, and blow succeeds to blow:
still more and more the combat seems to rise,
that scarce their weapons can their wrath suffice;
till grappling fierce, in nearer strife they close,
and helm to helm, and shield to shield oppose.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Claudio
• Monteverdi
• Combattimento
• Tancredi
• Clorinda
• Werner
• Hollweg
• Kurt
• Equiluz
• Trudeliese
• Schmidt
• Nikolaus
• Harnoncourt

[martykoll]

WOW! This is terrific...have not heard this before...Civileso, you are to be sincerely thanked for posting and linking the words, music, score, and translation....what a terrific thing you are doing for us music lovers....I love this, and need to seek out more...

Marty Kollmorgen

[civileso]

I'm glad it is appreciated. Thanks for your kind words.

[hillevifan]

This is by far the best version of this work that has ever been recorded. I just purchased the new version with Emanuelle Haim conducting and Rolando Villazon as Testo, and it is so overdone and campy, it's horrible! His voice is so pushed it's not even funny...not for Monteverdi at least- and I also like this version because it showcases one of my favorite mezzo's off all time Trudeliese Schmidt! and Harnoncourt has always been amoung my favorite conductors and pioneers of early music...

[civileso]

I agree on all counts! And to add to your points, Hollweg gives a mind boggling performance, which, in my opinion is really one of the most memorable that I ever heard. Can't be beat!

[DerangedRanger1]

nice...but pianoforte in the score?

[110011100]

Awesome ending!

[JLorz84]

Il finale è davvero commovente, non ho parole.

No words for the ending, I'm crying

[giaenonancora]

eccezionale, grande, grandissimo harnoncourt

Le voci sono magnifiche, secondo me è la migliore esecuzione in circolazione.

The Best Performance!! Absolutely!

[ishhf]

gracias... :D esto es magnificooo

[aepk41]

Why do such empty comparisons have to be made? The Haim/Villazon version might not be conventional but it is musically and visually well produced. How is it "camp"? I think we have some pretension here.

[thebarroque]

Among my favorites, this one is my second, the first would be or Garrido's version, or Cavina's version of this beautiful madrigal, however I prefer so much Cavina because of Emanuela Galli in the role of Clorinda =)

[civileso]

Hehe, OK, lets not say he is that horrible. :) At least, for my part, I don't know his work much. But when I listened to that Haim recording with him singing the Testo part, I was not impressed at all! :)