Credits:

Cherubini / Poznan Philharmonic Orch / Borowicz

Description:

Cesti's opera "La Dori, or the Noble Slave" is set in Babylon on the Euphrates River. Princess Dori of Nicaea is betrothed to Prince Orontes of Persia at an early age, but is later taken to Egypt by pirates and raised as an Egyptian princess. Dori and Oronte were reunited in Egypt, but Oronte was called back to Persia when her father became ill. Dori followed Oronte to Persia, disguised as a man, and was caught by bandits and sold as a slave. After a series of strange fates and comical slapstick, Dori and Oronte are reunited. After its premiere in 1657 at the court of Innsbruck, where Cesti was serving, it was performed in Italy for the wedding festivities of the Medici family, and was also performed in many other places, where it enjoyed great popularity. This album is a recording of a performance in Innsbruck in 2019, the 350th anniversary of Cesti's death, in the composer's birthplace. The highly skilled soloists sing with a light touch, and the ensemble of Dantone and Accademia Byzantina, both of whom are renowned for their performances of 17th century works, bring the forgotten works back to life in the present day. Naxos Japan