Composer of the Week - Francesco Cavalli - An Invitation from Cardinal Mazarin

Donald Macleod explores the composer's ill-fated visit to France in 1660 - when he was invited to compose an opera for the marriage of Louis XIV - and his operatic career's subsequent demise. Orimonte (excerpt) Xerse (excerpt) Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano) Scottish Chamber Orchestra Raymond Leppard (conductor) Erato EDC88100, track 8 Ercole Amante (Prologue) Jean-Denis Monory (narrator) Francoise Masset, Celine Ricci (soprano) Francois-Nicolas Geslot (countertenor) Florian Westphal (bass) Le Choeur du Marais La Simphonie du Marais Hugo Reyne (director) Erato EDC88100, track 6 Eliogabalo (excerpt from Act 1) Andrew King (tenor) London Early Music Group James Tyler (director) Hyperion CDA66153, track 3 Statira, Principessa di Persia (excerpt from Act 2) Maria Ercolano, Maria Grazia Schiavo, Roberta Andalo (soprano) Giuseppe de Vittorio, Rosario Totaro (tenor) Cappella de'Turchini Antonio Florio (director) Naïve OP30382, disk 2 tracks 7-9 Ormindo (excerpt from Act 2) Anne Howells (mezzo-soprano) John Wakefield (tenor) Federico Davia (bass) Glyndebourne Festival Opera London Philharmonic Orchestra Raymond Leppard (director) Decca 444529-2, disk 2 track 10-11