Immerse yourself in the rich, Baroque world of Reinhard Keiser's "Ulysses," a captivating musical journey that brings to life the timeless tale of Odysseus. This two-disc set, released by Coviello Classics, offers a unique opportunity to explore the work of a composer who, in his time, was celebrated as one of the greatest minds in music.
Recorded live at the Theater Nienburg in October 2021, this performance features the Göttinger Barockorchester under the direction of Antonius Adamske, accompanied by a stellar cast of vocalists including Bogna Bernagiewicz, Francisca Prudencio, Gerald Thompson, and Markus Brutscher. The album spans a total of 150 minutes, divided into 89 tracks that encompass the full three acts of this operatic masterpiece.
"Ulysses" is a rare gem in the world of Baroque opera, blending German and Italian influences to create a sound that is both familiar and fresh. The libretto, written by Friedrich Maximilian von Lersner, is based on the classic story of Ulysses and Penelope, offering a dramatic and musical feast that showcases Keiser's exceptional talent for storytelling.
This recording is not just a performance; it's a historical reenactment of a work that premiered in 1722 at the Hoftheater Kopenhagen. It's a chance to experience the music as it was meant to be heard, with all the passion and drama of a live performance. Whether you're a seasoned opera enthusiast or a curious newcomer, "Ulysses" by Reinhard Keiser is a must-listen, offering a glimpse into the vibrant world of Baroque opera and the enduring power of this remarkable composer's music.
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Intrada à 9 avanti l'opera"Reinhard Keiser, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "PROLOGO. Coro. Froher Tag, der du das Leben"Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Francisca Prudencio, Gerald Thompson, Goetz Philipp Körner, Janno Scheller, Jürgen Orelly, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Göttinger Barockchor, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Rezitativo. Getreue Cimbrier" (Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Aria. Preise mit gebognen Knien" (Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Coro. Dich zu erheben"Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Francisca Prudencio, Gerald Thompson, Goetz Philipp Körner, Janno Scheller, Jürgen Orelly, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Göttinger Barockchor, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Rezitativo. Ich steig herauf" (Neptunus, Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Aria. Die Ostsee, der beschäumte Belt" (Neptunus)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Rezitativo. Auf Erden sind die Thaten nicht geringer" (Neptunus, Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Einleitung: "Coro. Lebe, großer FRIEDERICH"Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Francisca Prudencio, Gerald Thompson, Goetz Philipp Körner, Janno Scheller, Jürgen Orelly, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Göttinger Barockchor, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 1: "Aria. Erhebt euch, ihr Winde" (Urilas)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 1: "Rezitativo. Penelope hat lang mein Hertz besessen" (Urilas, Circe)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 2: "Aria con Unisoni. In der Liebe Rosengarten" (Urilas, Circe)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 2: "Rezitativo. All mein Vertrauen" (Urilas, Circe)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 3: "Rezitativo. Ich habe Reich und alles hinterlassen" (Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 3: "Aria Pizzicata. Süßer Ursprung meiner Ruh" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 4: "Rezitativo. Sag, liebste Circe sag" (Penelope, Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 4: "Giuseppe Maria Orlandini: Aria. Usignuol tra ra" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 4: "Aria. Du angenehme Nachtigallmi" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 4: "Rezitativo. Cephalia bleib hier" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 5: "Rezitativo. Mein armes Hertz" (Cephalia)Reinhard Keiser, Francisca Prudencio, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 5: "Aria con Violini et Oboi. Mit tausend Lust drück ich dich an meine Brust" (Cephalia)Reinhard Keiser, Francisca Prudencio, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 6: "Rezitativo. Diß ist der Ort" (Urilas, Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 6: "Aria. Will der Himmel mich nicht hören" (Urilas)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 6: "Accompagnato. Dreyfache Hekate" (Jupiter)Reinhard Keiser, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 6: "Coro. Wir gehorchen deinen Worten"Reinhard Keiser, Göttinger Barockochester, Göttinger Barockchor, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 7: "Aria à 2. Die süße Liebe" (Amouretten)Reinhard Keiser, Francisca Prudencio, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 7: "Ballet der Amouretten (Chaconne) - tutti"Reinhard Keiser, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 7: "Rezitativo. Entweicht, denn euer Zweck ist lasterhafft" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 7: "Aria einer Amourette. Diesen Blumen hat das Leben" (Amourette)Reinhard Keiser, Francisca Prudencio, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 7: "Ballet der Amouretten (Chaconne) - soli"Reinhard Keiser, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 7: "Rezitativo. Entweicht, ihr Furien" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 8: "Aria. Non ha fortuna" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 8: "Rezitativo. O unbarmhertziges Geschicke" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 8: "Accompagnato. Darum zerschmettre mich" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 8: "Rezitativo. Das Übel hat noch nicht so überhand genommen" (Cephalia)Reinhard Keiser, Francisca Prudencio, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 9: "Rezitativo. Verhaßte Zauberin" (Penelope, Circe, Urilas)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Gerald Thompson, Jürgen Orelly, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 10: "Rezitativo. Die Juno hat sie uns entzogen!" (Circe, Urilas)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act I, Scene 10: "Aria à 2. Auff, auff zur Rache" (Circe, Urilas)Reinhard Keiser, Jürgen Orelly, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 1: "Aria. Mit Freuden Thränen" (Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 1: "Rezitativo. Jedoch, was fällt mir ins Gesicht" (Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 2: "Aria. Kann ich dich nur wieder sehen" (Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 2: "Rezitativo. Jedoch wer weiß, ob sie auch treu geblieben" (Ulysses, Arpax)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Goetz Phillip Körner, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 2: "Aria. Das Frauenvolk ist voller Tücke" (Arpax)Reinhard Keiser, Goetz Phillip Körner, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 2: "Rezitativo. O weh, ist Circe hier?" (Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 3: "Rezitativo. Ob du mich gleich betrogen" (Circe, Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 3: "Aria à 2. Amor bindt uns heute wieder" (Circe, Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 3: "Rezitativo. Auff lasset uns von hinnen ziehen" (Circe, Ulysses)Reinhard Keiser, Janno Scheller, Gerald Thompson, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 4: "Aria. Ich drücke dich mit tausend Küssen" (Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 4: "Rezitativo. Allein, du scheinest mir gantz kalt" (Ulysses, Penelope)Reinhard Keiser, Bogna Bernagiewicz, Janno Scheller, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Ulysses, Act II, Scene 5: "Aria. Ich soll stets ein Spiel der Sterne" (Eurilochus)Reinhard Keiser, Markus Brutscher, Göttinger Barockochester, Antonius Adamske
Reinhard Keiser, born in 1674, was a pioneering German opera composer who left an indelible mark on the Baroque and early Rococo periods. Based in Hamburg, Keiser composed over a hundred operas, earning him the title of the preeminent German opera composer of his time. His works are celebrated for their dramatic musical settings, which brought a new emotional depth to the texts he worked with. Despite his significant contributions, Keiser's legacy was overshadowed for many decades, but his music continues to captivate audiences today. Keiser's ability to bridge musical styles and his innovative approach to opera make his compositions a must-listen for anyone interested in the rich history of classical music.