TRACKLISTING
CD 1
Overture
Act I
Act II

CD 2
Act II (conclusion)
Act III

RECORDING INFORMATION
Traetta's Antigona marks a culmination of eighteenth-century Italian opera. It is a highly dramatic work, with wonderful arias, striking choruses and great psychological insight. This world premiere recording by Christophe Rousset, which celebrates the tenth anniversary of Les Talens Lyriques, was made after triumphant performances at the 1997 Beaune Festival.

Born and trained in Naples, Tommaso Traetta (1727. 1779) had a genius for mel that is instantly seductive.

"Antigona , written in 1772, is a striking precursor to Mozart's Idomeneo or Cherubini's Medea . A single listen is enough to assess its exceptional magnetic power. The general musical architecture, the choral interventions, the arias that free themselves from the da capo style, the multiple ensembles, the great accompanied recitatives: everything is innovative and without any break. It is rare for an eighteenth-century work to be so highly praised, to be considered a masterpiece, both in its own time and in the present day, and yet to be so rarely available to the public. " Christophe Rousset

Antigona was written to be performed in St Petersburg for Catherine II. It was written for the greatest singers of the day including Caterina Gabrielli. This recording features an exceptional, exquisitely Latin cast which would grace any opera house. The title role is sung by Spanish soprano Maria Bayo, a rising star of international opera, who is increasingly well known as a recording artist.