Joao de Sousa Carvalho (1745-1798)

L'Angelica

Joana Seara, Sandra Medeiros (sopranos), Lidia Vinyes Curtis, Maria Luísa Tavares (mezzo-sopranos), Fernando Guimarães (tenor)

Concerto Campestre, Pedro Castro

A world premiere recording based on the libretto by Metastasio. João de Sousa Carvalho was one of the most important Portuguese composers of his generation. With L'Angelica he seized the first opportunity to write a courtly drama after being appointed music teacher to the royal princesses. Carvalho created a work full of dramatic and expressive intensity, telling the story of the beautiful Angelica, who abuses her seductive charms, in such an impressive and captivating way that the royal house appointed him court composer to the crown and entrusted him with further commissions.