April 2023
Due to technical issues, the website was unfortunately offline for a period. Happy to be back. In the meantime, a lot has happened. Sergio just gave a masterclass at the conservatory of Parma on the subject of vocal vibrato. Further, there has been the release on CD and DVD of a live performance of Nicola Porpora's serenata 'L'Angelica' with La Lira di Orfeo, conducted by Federico Maria Sardelli. And very soon there will be the release of newly discovered oratorio of Pedro Antonio Avondano: Morte d'Abel was composed in the early 1760's with Divino Sospiro under the baton of Massimo Mazzeo. Enjoy!
Due to technical issues, the website was unfortunately offline for a period. Happy to be back. In the meantime, a lot has happened. Sergio just gave a masterclass at the conservatory of Parma on the subject of vocal vibrato. Further, there has been the release on CD and DVD of a live performance of Nicola Porpora's serenata 'L'Angelica' with La Lira di Orfeo, conducted by Federico Maria Sardelli. And very soon there will be the release of newly discovered oratorio of Pedro Antonio Avondano: Morte d'Abel was composed in the early 1760's with Divino Sospiro under the baton of Massimo Mazzeo. Enjoy!
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December 2022
Sergio sang at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for the 'Spiegelzaal' program of Radio 4, the classical Dutch radio music channel. With Andrea Friggi at the harpsichord. You can listen to the full transmission here and/or watch the YouTube-video below.
Later this month, Sergio will perform in the 9th Symphony of Beethoven during the festive season in various places in Italy. You are welcome to come and celebrate together.
Sergio sang at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for the 'Spiegelzaal' program of Radio 4, the classical Dutch radio music channel. With Andrea Friggi at the harpsichord. You can listen to the full transmission here and/or watch the YouTube-video below.
Later this month, Sergio will perform in the 9th Symphony of Beethoven during the festive season in various places in Italy. You are welcome to come and celebrate together.
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October 2022
Again, Sergio releases a new CD at Challenge Records: L'aureo serto. Together with the Abchordis Ensemble & Andrea Buccarella, Sergio performs arias of Nicola Porpora. Porpora is well known for his music for the higher voices, but he composed great works as well for the bass and baritone. The arias and the instrumental works of this CD come from his oratoria, operas, and serenatas. The music ranges from the dramatic to the comical, with lots of coloratura and trills.
Again, Sergio releases a new CD at Challenge Records: L'aureo serto. Together with the Abchordis Ensemble & Andrea Buccarella, Sergio performs arias of Nicola Porpora. Porpora is well known for his music for the higher voices, but he composed great works as well for the bass and baritone. The arias and the instrumental works of this CD come from his oratoria, operas, and serenatas. The music ranges from the dramatic to the comical, with lots of coloratura and trills.
November 2021
Sergio's new CD is available! Amanti (Lovers) is a collection of chamber cantatas for bass of Benedetto Marcello (1686-1737). They are all in the baritonal range that suits Sergio so well. Ensemble Due Venti accompanies Sergio. They are Agnieszka Oszanca on the cello, Simone Vallerotonda on the archlute, and Alessandro Trapasso on the harpsichord.
All 5 cantatas treat the subject of love. In the world of Marcello, the lover cannot be together with his admired lady. The lover experiences jealousy, rejection, desire, sadness, and hope. The cantatas are reflections on the various states of mind of the lover. Marcello's setting on music is highly virtuosic, with beautifully expressive melodic lines in the arias, and harmonically surprising recitatives. You can find an interview with Sergio about the project here.
Sergio's new CD is available! Amanti (Lovers) is a collection of chamber cantatas for bass of Benedetto Marcello (1686-1737). They are all in the baritonal range that suits Sergio so well. Ensemble Due Venti accompanies Sergio. They are Agnieszka Oszanca on the cello, Simone Vallerotonda on the archlute, and Alessandro Trapasso on the harpsichord.
All 5 cantatas treat the subject of love. In the world of Marcello, the lover cannot be together with his admired lady. The lover experiences jealousy, rejection, desire, sadness, and hope. The cantatas are reflections on the various states of mind of the lover. Marcello's setting on music is highly virtuosic, with beautifully expressive melodic lines in the arias, and harmonically surprising recitatives. You can find an interview with Sergio about the project here.
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October 2021
The weather is slowly moving into Autumn. The leaves are changing into multicolors. Rains are falling more frequently. Perfect circumstances to stay inside a concert hall and enjoy live music. Our souls need it. Fortunately this is possible again.
On October 2, Sergio performed the role of Jesus in an oratorio of Giovanni Bottesini, called 'The garden of Olivet'. Interestingly enough, the oratorio is originally written in English. Another interesting point is that Bottesini is mostly known for his compositions for the contrabass. This oratorio shows that he had an interesting taste in vocal music as well. Sergio describes the music as intoxicating. You can find an announcement of the concert here, in Italian.
On the 16th of October, Sergio will sing in 'Ein Deutsches Requiem' of Johannes Brahms in Modena, Italy. A link to the concert is here. The music and the team are amazing.
Challenge Records announced the cover of the new CD that will be released on the 5th of November. Soon there will be more news. You can pre-order the CD here if you like. More to come soon!
The weather is slowly moving into Autumn. The leaves are changing into multicolors. Rains are falling more frequently. Perfect circumstances to stay inside a concert hall and enjoy live music. Our souls need it. Fortunately this is possible again.
On October 2, Sergio performed the role of Jesus in an oratorio of Giovanni Bottesini, called 'The garden of Olivet'. Interestingly enough, the oratorio is originally written in English. Another interesting point is that Bottesini is mostly known for his compositions for the contrabass. This oratorio shows that he had an interesting taste in vocal music as well. Sergio describes the music as intoxicating. You can find an announcement of the concert here, in Italian.
On the 16th of October, Sergio will sing in 'Ein Deutsches Requiem' of Johannes Brahms in Modena, Italy. A link to the concert is here. The music and the team are amazing.
Challenge Records announced the cover of the new CD that will be released on the 5th of November. Soon there will be more news. You can pre-order the CD here if you like. More to come soon!
September 2021
Summer is at its end. Some interesting concerts coming up. In Milano and Torino, Sergio Foresti will sing at the MiTo festival in a program of Schubert called The secret Schubert together with Marcella Orsatti Talamanca (soprano), Alessandra Vissentin (contralto), Mirko Guadagnini (tenor), and Emanuele Delucchi (piano).
Sergio gave an in-depth interview with his producing company Due Venti about singing, baroque repertoire, use of voice, and his future plans. You can read the whole interview here.
Summer is at its end. Some interesting concerts coming up. In Milano and Torino, Sergio Foresti will sing at the MiTo festival in a program of Schubert called The secret Schubert together with Marcella Orsatti Talamanca (soprano), Alessandra Vissentin (contralto), Mirko Guadagnini (tenor), and Emanuele Delucchi (piano).
Sergio gave an in-depth interview with his producing company Due Venti about singing, baroque repertoire, use of voice, and his future plans. You can read the whole interview here.
July 2021
In a few days, Sergio Foresti will travel to the fesitval of Valle d'Itria in Puglia for the rehearsals of a staged version of a serenata of Nicola Porpora. 'L'Angelica' was performed for the first time in 1720 on a text of Pietro Metastasio. The occasion was the birthday of Elisabeth Christine von Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, the Habsburg Empress at the time. This serenata was the official debut of Farinelli, Popora's student, in the role of Tirsi. The story is inspired on 'Orlando furioso' (The frenzy of Orlando) of Ludovico Ariosto and 'Orlando innamorato' (Orlando in love) of Matteo Maria Boiardo. Sergio will sing the role of Titiro, an elderly goatherd, who comments of the struggles of love of the young lovers around him.
The cast is bautiful. In addition, Sergio will perform again with Maestro Federico Sardelli with whom he recorded 2 Vivaldi operas in the past (Tito Manlio, Arsilda). This is going to be an experience to enjoy. If you are in the area, it is worth to come and see the show on July 30 and August 3. Details here
In a few days, Sergio Foresti will travel to the fesitval of Valle d'Itria in Puglia for the rehearsals of a staged version of a serenata of Nicola Porpora. 'L'Angelica' was performed for the first time in 1720 on a text of Pietro Metastasio. The occasion was the birthday of Elisabeth Christine von Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, the Habsburg Empress at the time. This serenata was the official debut of Farinelli, Popora's student, in the role of Tirsi. The story is inspired on 'Orlando furioso' (The frenzy of Orlando) of Ludovico Ariosto and 'Orlando innamorato' (Orlando in love) of Matteo Maria Boiardo. Sergio will sing the role of Titiro, an elderly goatherd, who comments of the struggles of love of the young lovers around him.
The cast is bautiful. In addition, Sergio will perform again with Maestro Federico Sardelli with whom he recorded 2 Vivaldi operas in the past (Tito Manlio, Arsilda). This is going to be an experience to enjoy. If you are in the area, it is worth to come and see the show on July 30 and August 3. Details here
April 2021
At Good Friday Sergio Foresti sang live at Dutch National Radio (NPO4 Radio 4) together with Fred Jacobs on the theorbo. In the program Podium they performed parts of the Bach cantata 'Ich habe genug' and of Händel's 'Dalla guerra amorosa'. Here you can listen to the Händel.
At Good Friday Sergio Foresti sang live at Dutch National Radio (NPO4 Radio 4) together with Fred Jacobs on the theorbo. In the program Podium they performed parts of the Bach cantata 'Ich habe genug' and of Händel's 'Dalla guerra amorosa'. Here you can listen to the Händel.
March 2021
Out now: Cieco Amor: Opera arias written for Giuseppe Maria Boschi.
Sergio Foresti with Abchordis Ensemble and Andrea Buccarella.
Order information: Challenge Records International www.challengerecords.com/products/16111475282432
Digital: orcd.co/dkd4d2r
Extended booklet in EN, IT, FR & DE: cms.new-art.nl/content/files/challenge/1613476184-CC72875_-_Booklet_TB.pdf
February 2021
March 12 is the launch date for Sergio's new cd: Cieco Amor, meaning 'Blind love'. The orchestra is the wonderful Abchordis Ensemble conducted by award winning harpsichordist Andrea Buccarella. The cd is a collection of arias written for Giuseppe Maria Boschi (1698-1744). Boschi (pronouce Bossky) was called a bass in his time, but would be viewed as a baritone nowadays. In fact, he was the first famous baritone in opera. He sang with all the stars of his time and the important composers wrote in total 83 different roles for him. Composers like his great friend Lotti, both Bononcini brothers, Albinoni, Caldara, Porpora, Leo, and of course Händel. Händel created for him 17 roles and let him shine in London.
Boschi was famous for his capacity to express drama in music. He portrayed many kings, warriors, fathers, and lovers with a wide array of emotions. Because of his talent to sing rage-arias (arie di furia) he often was the bad guy. This collection of arias shows the great variety of moods that he was capable to sing. The music moves between slow sadness and florid rage. The arias are introduced in the booklet by Giovanni Battista Graziado, who excellently did the research and also wrote the biography.
This promoclip made by Valentine Laout of Challenge Records International gives a preview of the famous aria of King Argante in Händel's opera Rinaldo. In Sibilar gli angui d'Aletto Argante challenges the enemy army. He says that he can hear the hissing snakes of Alecto (one of the 3 furies with bat wings, bleeding eyes and snakes for hair) and the roaring of Scylla, the monster dog with 6 heads. Argante tells the besieging army that he can feel their poison in his chest but nothing they do is instilling fear in him. Filmed at the so-called Snake wall it gives you a taste of what is soon to come. Enjoy!
September 2020
Sergio Foresti continues his exploration of the Italian cantata for the lower male voice. After Brutus, the project of Caldara with Ensemble Stile Galante, Sergio now records two new programs with his Ensemble Due Venti. They play a program of baroque chamber cantatas with basso continuo. This will result in 2 cds: The first is monographic, dedicated to the Venetian composer Benedetto Marcello with cantatas about the joys and -mostly- sufferings of love. The second cd will be a varied program of cantatas in the Italian style. This means different composers and also different thematics that are expressed in the music (historical, moral, love). Among them is the famous Bach cantata 'Amore traditore'.
Ensemble Due Venti consists of Alessandro Trapasso (harpsichord), Agnieszka Oszanca (cello), and Simone Vallerotonda (archlute).
Sergio Foresti continues his exploration of the Italian cantata for the lower male voice. After Brutus, the project of Caldara with Ensemble Stile Galante, Sergio now records two new programs with his Ensemble Due Venti. They play a program of baroque chamber cantatas with basso continuo. This will result in 2 cds: The first is monographic, dedicated to the Venetian composer Benedetto Marcello with cantatas about the joys and -mostly- sufferings of love. The second cd will be a varied program of cantatas in the Italian style. This means different composers and also different thematics that are expressed in the music (historical, moral, love). Among them is the famous Bach cantata 'Amore traditore'.
Ensemble Due Venti consists of Alessandro Trapasso (harpsichord), Agnieszka Oszanca (cello), and Simone Vallerotonda (archlute).
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