It seems quite a long time ago that I went to Gluck's La clemenza di Tito in a concert performance at St John's Smith Square, a venue so close to my workplace it's actually closer to the main entrance than my desk is!
It's not a well-known work, indeed, reportedly, it was the British premiere, even though he lived in the Eighteenth century. Clemenza struggles to get a mention in the first few hits thrown up by Google. His most famous work is (probably) Orfeo ed Euridice, from which comes the well-known Dance of the Blessed Spirits and Che faró senza Euridice.
I thought it was really quite delightful, quite gorgeous music for a lovely summer's evening in a light and airy venue. It was performed by The Classical Opera Company and the Classical Ensemble conducted by Ian Page. There were six soloists, five sopranos, all on the young side, and one tenor.
Sesto - Marlene Grimson
Vitellia - Klara Ek
Annio - Arlene Rolph
Tito - Nigel Robson
Servilia - Rebecca Bottone
Publio - Sophie Bevan (so young she's still at University...!)
OF the singers, Klara Ek was undoubtedly the star. A strong, powerful voice, yet capable of lovely pianos. Although she obviously tired towards the end, it was a triumphant performance. All of the singers were pleasant to listen to, although I liked Nigel Robson les than the sopranos, all of whom I would be happy to hear again.
Structurally, it consisted of recitative followed by aria, which just the closing number being a 'chorus' of all six soloists. The stand-out aria is Se mai senti spirarti sul volto, of which you can hear a tantalising excerpt - or, indeed buy - Cecilia Bartoli's Gluck - Italian Arias
Obviously, never having heard the opera before, I really can't comment on matters on interpretation, but I don't even have to pretend to be knowledgable. It would be pleasant to hear it again, although I'm not sure I would rush out and buy it on CD. And I'm not sure that it would benefit much from being staged - like Mozart's more famous version, it suffers from not having much of a story.
I do not disagree with Andrew Clements' verdict in the Guardian.
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