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Handel - Italian Cantatas Vol.5 - Clori, Tirsi e Fileno 


Volume 5 of La Risonanza’s complete edition of Handel’s Italian cantate con strumenti contains the extended cantata Cor fedele, in vano speri (usually called by its nickname “Clori, Tirsi e Fileno”). Probably composed for his principal Roman patron Marquis Francesco Maria Ruspoli in autumn 1707, Handel’s pastoral drama tells the story of the fickle serial seductress Clori and her two rival shepherd lovers Tirsi and Fileno. Despite taking oaths of fidelity to each, her intrigue is eventually exposed, and the three members of the love triangle agree to coexist peacefully as long as all concerned get some satisfaction from the arrangement.

Fabio Bonizzoni seems keen to emphasise the operatic atmosphere of this music, and the three singers are ideally cast. Roberta Invernizzi’s virtuoso coloratura in Tirsi’s furious denouncing of Clori in “Tra le fere” is magnificent (the oboe solo passagework by Andrea Mion is also impressive). Yetzabel Arias Fernández is a fruitier and deeper soprano than Invernizzi but still perfectly in proportion with the articulate music-making: Clori’s “Va col canto lusingando”, which has a delectable instrumental colour featuring two recorders, is entrancing. Leila Schayegh’s solo fiddling in “Barbaro, tu non credi” is by turns brilliant and beguiling, as the minx Clori uses contrasting passionate fast music and mock-sorrowful slower passages to wangle her way back into Tirsi’s favour. Fileno’s “Sai perchè l’onda” is plaintively sung by Romina Basso, whose last aria (“Come la rondinella”) features a lute obbligato part that is beautifully played by Gabriele Palomba. 



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