The Swiss Diego Fasolis is one of the current masters of the Baroque. Just hear the sweet and illuminating way the Royal Opera Orchestra sounds compared to the recording The captive of the seraglio directed by Gaétan Jarry commented last week. The title of this serenade by Vivaldi means “The Seine in celebration”. Two allegorical characters, the Golden Age (soprano) and Virtue (mezzo), find happiness on the banks of the Seine, the river being personified by a bass. All pay homage to the accession of Louis XV to the throne of France. Even if all this aims only for hedonism and pleasure, the large-scale work (80 minutes) is inspired, spectacular (bass tune “Qui nel profundo” which makes one think of The Resurrection of Händel) and remarkably trussed. There are several versions of La Senna Festeggiante, with Bonizzoni (Glossa) and Alessandrini (Opus 111) at the top. But the flawless vocal trio (Gwendoline Blondeel, Lucile Richardot, Luigi De Donato) and the flexible direction of Fasolis give a premium to novelty.
To see in video