Divine Impresario: Nicolini On Stage
with Mary Bevan and Laurence Cummings conducting Academy of Ancient Music
Randall’s Portrait Album of Castrato Nicolò Grimaldi
When I think about Nicolò Grimaldi – the castrato who conquered the opera world under the stage name Nicolini – the word that comes to mind is impresario. Not in the limited sense of a theatre manager, but rather as a creative force who shaped the artform itself. Nicolini wasn’t content just to stand and sing; he directed performances, he reworked libretti, and he elevated the standard of acting in opera. ‘Divine Impresario’ felt like the right title for this album because it not only celebrates Nicolini’s divine voice but also his visionary spirit – that rare combination of performer and artistic catalyst.
Today, Nicolini is best remembered for the music Handel wrote for him, yet the castrato’s world was so much larger. He sang for an astonishing range of composers, all of whom wrote arias that captured his dramatic range and vocal brilliance. Many of the works recorded here haven’t been heard since Nicolini’s lifetime and reviving them has been a thrilling process of rediscovery.
For me, stepping into this repertoire is a kind of conversation across time, with Nicolini, but also with the idea of what it means to be an impresario today. Like him, I’m drawn to music-making that is dramatically committed. In recording this music, I sought to channel the intensity for which Nicolini was famous and to honour his legacy as the divine impresario: defined by an ambition for opera to be more than just dazzling technique, but also a captivating and emotional experience.
Recording ‘Come nave in mezzo all’onda’ (N. Porpora)
Recording ‘Mostro crudel, che fai?’ (R. Broschi)
Album Tracklist
1 RICCARDO BROSCHI Mostro crudel che fai? from IDASPE | Venice 1730
2 FRANCESCO GASPARINI Porto piagato in petto from AMBLETO | London 1712
3 GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Sinfonia from RINALDO (Instrumental) | London 1711
4 G.F. HANDEL Cara sposa from RINALDO | London 1711
5 NICOLA PORPORA Spiegami il tuo desio from SIFACE | Venice 1726
with Mary Bevan, soprano
6 G.F. HANDEL Oh notte!… Notte amica from AMADIGI | London 1715
7 N. PORPORA Come nave in mezzo all’onda from SIFACE | Venice 1726
8 F. GASPARINI Per te bell’idol mio from ANTIOCO | London 1711
with Mary Bevan, soprano
9 FRANCESCO MANCINI È vano ogni pensiero from IDASPE FEDELE | London 1710
10 G.F. HANDEL Venti turbini from RINALDO | London 1711
11 ATTILIO ARIOSTI Nò, non piangete nò from TITO MANLIO | London 1717
12 F. GASPARINI Sì, t’intendo o core amante from TOMIRI | London 1709
13 F. GASPARINI Questo conforto from ANTIOCO | London 1712
14 GIOVANNI ANTONIO GIAJ Pensa se ancor from MITRIDATE | Venice 1729
15 G.F. HANDEL Crudel tu non farai from AMADIGI | London 1715
with Mary Bevan, soprano
REVIEWS
‘a delightful portal into a world of baroque wonderment and a musical project that delivers on every level.’ – Gramophone
‘Outstanding’ – Cultural Attache
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