Recorded in Padua's awe-inspiring Palazzo della Ragione, Tomaso Albinoni's (1671-1750) serenata teatrale “Il Concilio dei Pianeti” is performed here in its first stage production in modern times by the great Baroque ensemble “I Solisti Veneti” under its founder and principal conductor Claudio Scimone.
The Solisti Veneti – one of the world's leading chamber orchestras specialized in historical performance practice – were among the first to rediscover the beauty and richness of Albinoni's vocal music. The “theatrical serenade” was conceived from the start as a stage work as presented in this performance. Recitatives, arias, duets, choruses are sung by allegorical figures representing Eternity (soprano), Jupiter (mezzosoprano) and Mars (tenor). Written in 1729 for the birth of the Dauphin of France, the piece was conceived as a celebratory work to mark the happy occasion.
The “Council of the Planets” could not have found a better location than Padua's Palazzo della Ragione, which is decorated with frescoes from the 15th century depicting the signs of the Zodiac, liberal arts, professions, etc. Occupying pride of place in the 80-meter long “salone” is a wooden horse built in 1466 and attributed to Donatello.
Following a practice common in Albinoni's day, conductor Claudio Scimone inserts “three stupendous arias” (Scimone) that were written by Albinoni in 1710, but were not part of the “Concilio.” The practice was intended to awaken interest in a new work by inserting already well-known pieces within it – a subtle but presumably effective form of Baroque self-advertising!
