ORATORIO "ST. NICHOLAS OF BARI"
by G. Bononcini
Il Sistro Barocco Ensemble
Thusday 6 December 2012 at 9 p.m.
St. Salvador Church
Performance based entirely on the original manuscript (II B-Br. 3933) preserved in Brussels. Pier Paolo Ciurlia, lutenist and scholar has recently edited the critical edition of this work.
Il Sistro Barocco Ensemble
Elena Bertuzzi, soprano
Roberta Andalò, soprano
Elena Biscuola, contralto
Andrea Favari, bass
Raffaello Negri, first violin
Stefano Bruni, second violin
Giole Gusberti, cello
Marta Taaversi, viola
Pier Paolo Ciurlia, lute
Marija Jovanovic, harpsichord
Nicola Lamon, organ
On 6 December 2012, the Cultural Association MUSICAVENEZIA in celebration of St. Nicholas Day will present a special concert, the 'Oratory of St. Nicholas of Bari, composed in 1693 by Giovanni Bononcini at St. Salvador Church.
This performance will be the premiere based entirely on the original manuscript (II B-Br. 3933) preserved in Brussels. Pier Paolo Ciurlia, lutenist and scholar, has recently edited the critical edition of this work. The musical event will be performed in the church of San Salvador, where the saint is depicted in two altarpieces by many famous painters of the eighteenth century, the Venetian Fontebasso Francesco and Giovan Battista Piazzetta.
Unlike many representations of St. Nicholas in art, literature and music, which focus on his miracles, the Oratorio tells about the youth of the future saint, Nicholas (played by soprano Elena Bertuzzi, originally probably a male soprano) and the harmonious relationship with his mother Giovanna (Roberta Andalò, soprano) and father Epiphanius (Andrea Faveri, bass). Clizio (Elena Biscuola, mezzo) is not part of the known legend of the Saint. He is a young reveler, a close companion who tries to persuade Nicholas to lead a carefree life, but Nicholas resists and eventually performs his first miracle by converting his friend to the Christian faith.