Christmas Concert - Roman Philharmonic Academy

The Roman Philharmonic Academy presents a fascinating musical program curated by the conductor Alessandro Quarta at the Argentina Theater, with the Concerto Romano (Roman Concert), which embraces the spirituality of Vivaldi, the festive Christmas atmosphere of Corelli, and the light pastoral poetry of Scarlatti.

In furore justissimae irae RV 626 is one of three surviving motets for soprano, strings, and basso continuo written between 1720 and 1725 by Antonio Vivaldi during one of his stays in Rome, most likely commissioned by Cardinal Ottoboni. It is believed that at the time, the soprano role was performed by castrati, as women were generally not permitted to sing in church. The motet features a brief recitative between two starkly contrasting arias; the piece then concludes with a fiery Alleluia that demands excellent virtuosity.

The Concerto grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, “made for Christmas Eve” , is the eighth of the twelve concerti grossi composed by Arcangelo Corelli and published posthumously in 1714 as Op. 6. It was composed in the final decade of the 17th century and performed at the Christmas Eve cantata in the Apostolic Palace in the presence of Pope Alexander VIII Ottoboni in 1690. It is written in the classic slow-fast-slow-fast form of the church sonata even if Corelli however, breaks the rules in several parts.

The Pastoral Cantata for the Nativity of Our Lord, for soprano, strings, and basso continuo, "Oh di Betlemme altera povertà” finally, is the first of four works centered on the birth of Jesus Christ, performed on Christmas Eve 1695 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, in the presence of the Pope and numerous cardinals. Based on alternating arias and recitatives, the cantatas reproduce melodies evoking the tradition of the nativity scene and the sounds of shepherds playing fifes and bagpipes.Pr

Program:

Antonio Vivaldi

In Furore Justissimae Irae RV 626

Arcangelo Corelli

Concerto grosso "Made for Christmas Eve"

Alessandro Scarlatti

Oh di Betlemme altera

Carlotta Colombo, soprano

Concerto Romano, ensemble

Alessandro Quarta, conductor

Photo: official concert poster of the concert