Splendid baroque opera from Innsbruck. It's already a tradition: at the opening of the Innsbruck Festival there's a baroque opera rediscovery. This time it is L'Idalma overo Chi dura la vince ("Idalma, or Whoever perseveres wins) by Bernardo Pasquini.
Competing against Alessandro Scarlatti, Pasqini composed his Idalma in the Roman Carnival of 1680. It is about marital fidelity and steadfast love: themes that were already a favorite of Italian noble houses in the 17th century, and Bernardo Pasquini was, after all, in the service of the Roman Borghese family for over forty years.
Together with Giovanna Barbati, conductor and artistic director of the Festwochen Alessandro de Marchi has created a new version of the work, which has been forgotten for some 350 years, based on the composer's own handwriting. This version dispenses with lengthy musical repetitions and instead scores with a fireworks display of affects: brilliant arias full of expressivity and power, instrumental richness, sweeping ensembles and a sensitive musical design that takes full account of the permanent change of affects and dramatic situations. © CPO