Fermate il Passo: Tracing the Origins of Opera VivaBiancaLuna Biffi

• Prologue: Tempus fugit — Where the theme is the fleeting nature of time, and human mortality
• 1Voi che passate qui, fermate il passo (Developed and Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)01:45
• Paolo Scotti:
• 2O tempo, o ciel volubil che fuggendo01:07
• Act I: Love and the lover’s gaze: Sunset
• 3Se a mi che t’amo tanto doni morte03:24
• 4S’io sedo all’ombra Amor giù pone’l strale02:17
• 5Se m’è grato il tuo tornare01:57
• 6Se per colpa del vostro altiero sdegno (Developed and Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)01:21
• 7Nasce l’aspro mio tormento01:16
• 8Variations on the Theme 'Staralla ben cussì?'02:42
• 9Haimé, perché m’hai privo02:51
• Act II: Love and scorn: Night
• 10Hor che’l ciel e la terra e’l vento tace (Developed and Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)02:54
• 11Non val acqua al mio gran foco06:00
• 12Dissimulare etiam sperasti, perfide tantum (Developed and Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)00:45
• 13Scopri, lingua, el mio martire04:25
• 14Variations on the Theme 'La Folia' (From the Popular Chorus of the Frottola 'Una leggiadra Ninfa' [A Fair Nymph])02:08
• 15Io spero, e lo sperar cresce il tormento (Developed by Gloria Moretti, Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)01:02
• 16Per servirte perdo i passi03:31
• 17Se de fede vengo a meno02:48
• Marchetto Cara: Dreamlike Interlude
• 18Nasce la speme mia da una dolce riso02:30
• Act III: The surrender to love: Dawn
• 19O numquam pro re satis indignande Cupido (Developed by Gloria Moretti, Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)01:20
• 20Deh non più, deh non più mo’02:47
• Antonio Stringari (instrumental)
• 21Variations on the Theme 'Son più matti a questo mondo'02:36
• 22Fammi quanto dispetto far mi sai (Developed and Arranged by VivaBiancaLuna Biffi)00:57
• 23Nasce la speme mia da un dolce riso02:54
• Bartolomeo Tromboncino:
• 24Ostinato vo’ seguire02:49
• Epilogue: Carpe diem — In which the theme is vain hope
• 25Tu ne quaesieris, scire nefas00:45
• Marchetto Cara:
• 26Io non compro più speranza01:59
• Francesco Varoter:
• 27Voi che passate qui, firmate il passo03:59
• Total Runtime01:04:49

Info for Fermate il Passo: Tracing the Origins of Opera

This unique and, in some respects, revolutionary programme offers a new approach to the Early Italian Renaissance frottola repertoire. First of all, the solo performance with voice and viola d’arco, that cantare alla viola (‘singing to the viol’) which Baldassare Castiglione, in his famous Book of the Courtier (1527), indicated as the ‘more welcome’ way of performing a sung text.

Secondly, the frottole have been selected and put in order forming a miniature opera with a Prologue, three acts, and Epilogue, shedding new light on the origins of opera. A charismatic figure, VivaBiancaLuna Biffi is engaged in an intense solo activity and is regular partner of some of the leading Early Music performers such as Jordi Savall, Pierre Hamon and Brigitte Lesne.

VivaBiancaLuna Biffi, Viola d’arco

Recorded at the Paradyż Abbey, Gościkowo (Poland), 16-20 September 2013
Artistic direction, recording, editing and mastering by Alban Moraud

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Booklet for Fermate il Passo: Tracing the Origins of Opera