
A VOICE FOR BELCANTO
Teatro della Grancia
Friday, August 19, 2016, h 19.00
Tenor Chris Merritt
Piano Beatrice Benzi
Giacomo Carissimi
Vittoria, mio core!
Francesco Durante
Vergin, tutto amor
Alessandro Scarlatti
Già il Sole dal Gange
O cessate di piagarmi
Giovanni Battista Bononcini
Per la gloria d'adorarvi
Christoph Willibald Gluck
O del mio dolce ardore
Giovanni Legrenzi
Che fiero costume
Giulio Caccini
Amarilli
Francesco Durante
Danza, danza
Vincenzo Bellini
Sogno d'infanzia
Dolente immagine di Fille mia
Bella Nice che d'amore
Ma rendi pur contento
Gioachino Rossini
Ariette à l'ancienne
Ariette villageoise
Giacomo Puccini
Sole e amore
Storiella d'amore
Gioachino Rossini
da Otello
"Ah! sì, per voi già sento"
Chris Merritt’s is a legendary name for fans of belcanto. Together with artists such as Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Rockwell Blake and Samuel Ramey, the American tenor has been a leading figure in the revival of the belcanto repertoire in theatres around the world, performing in memorable productions such as Il viaggio a Reims with Claudio Abbado and Guglielmo Tell with Riccardo Muti. His prestigious performing career will be forever associated with the Rossini Renaissance, the exciting years of the rediscovery of the composer’s opere serie and the first Rossini Opera Festival. The exceptional range of his voice, from the low notes of the baritone register to the highs of the tenor have enabled him to successfully reintroduce the repertoire of the legendary 19th century baritenors Andrea Nozzari and Domenico Donzelli.
It is an honour for Solo Belcanto to inaugurate the third Festival with a concert by Chris Merritt, now entering a new phase of his long career. Accompanied by the pianist Beatrice Benzi, répétiteur of the Teatro della Scala, the American tenor will perform pieces from the Italian chamber music repertoire.
