Farnace

Max Emanuel Cencic in Antonio Vivaldi's Opera Farnace from the Strasbourg Opera House recorded 30 May 2012.  - 2 hours 47 minutes.

Farnace - Max Emanuel Cencic 
Tamiri - Ruxandra Donose
Berenice - Mary Ellen Nesi 
Selinda - Carol Garcia 
Gilade - Vivica Genaux
Aquilio - Emiliano Gonzalez Toro 
Pompeo - Juan Sancho   

Viviadi's Il Farnace in a version that Vivaldi prepared specially for the city of Ferrara in 1737-38 after its success in Venice. This is not only the first time the Ferrara version of Farnace has been recorded, but also the first time it has been heard, as the planned performances of 1738 were cancelled due to the local failure of the Vivaldi opera that preceded it, Siroe. Farnace was never staged again anywhere, and the only surviving trace of its music is in the form of an incomplete score carefully notated and preserved by Vivaldi in his personal collection. It is the only remaining opera of Vivaldi never to have been performed since the composer's time, and, unlike all the others, has remained unrecorded until now. The chances are that Vivaldi never completed this Farance. However, with the reconstruction of the third act by Diego Fasolis and Frédéric Delaméa, this album presents a rare opportunity to discover a work bursting with riches, the last fruit of Vivaldi's unprecedented operatic output. In this recording, the cast is led by the brilliant countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic in the title role with the support of conductor Diego Fasolis and the famed I Barocchisti ensemble.

 The opera tells the story of Pharnaces II; according to the uses of the time there is no historical accuracy since the fate of Pharnaces is quite different from the one in history books.

The Plot  :- Farnace, King of Pontus, has been defeated, and to avoid their falling into the hands of the enemy, he commands his wife, Tamiri, to kill their son and then herself. Tamiri's mother, Berenice, hates Farnace and is in cahoots with Pompey, the Roman victor, to kill him. Selinda, Farnace's sister, is taken captive by the Roman Aquilius, who falls in love with her, as does Berenice's Captain, Gilades. Selinda plays them off one another in an attempt to save her brother. Somehow, it ends happily and everyone is spared.

I bought the CD of this performance because I collect everything by the astounding Max Emanuel Cencic, but hopefully a wonderful BluRay version will be released with English Subtitles (there are none above).
A concert by Max Cencic with some brilliant singing from Handel to Donizetti