La Santissima Trinita, oratorio

Description

The discovery and recording of the sacred oratorio La Santissima Trinità by Gaetano Veneziano, dating from 1693, realized by Antonio Florio and I Turchini marks a significant milestone in their exploration of Neapolitan baroque music. Gaetano Veneziano can now be appreciated for his true worth not only for the liturgical music that made him famous but also for his large-scale compositions where his favorite disciple, Francesco Provenzale, excelled. Thanks to their rigorous research, Dinko Fabris (author of the essay accompanying this disc) and Antonio Florio were able to identify four oratorios that have traveled through the centuries, from Veneziano's personal library to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Like his close contemporary Alessandro Scarlatti, Veneziano was frequently commissioned to compose sacred vocal music, and La Santissima Trinità (spiritual cantata in one act in the form of an oratorio, according to the composer) is designed for five solo voices. For this new Glossa recording - made at the Chiesa dei Servi di Maria in Sorrento - Leslie Visco, Cristina Grifone, Filippo Mineccia, Rosario Totaro, and Giuseppe Naviglio splendidly take on their allegorical roles in defense of the Virgin's prerogatives against the demon, Peccato (Sin) in the text. The direction of Antonio Florio - at the head of the instrumentalists of I Turchini - once again demonstrates his extraordinary understanding of the baroque universe, particularly that of Naples.