In the 17th century, Alessandro Scarlatti enjoyed great fame as a composer of opera and chamber cantatas popular in the salons of nobility. The cantata was considered higher art, with an emphasis on the poetry that preceded the music. In order to better illustrate the texts with which he was working, Scarlatti made frequent use of unusual forms and harmonies. This collection of cantatas is morose in spirit, beginning with 'Nel silenzio comune,' the text of which portrays a young man suffering rejection, nursing the wounds of love. Characterized by a weeping motif, 'Fermate mai' prompts darkened harmonies in the accompaniment. In 'Clori vezzosa' and 'Piango, sospiri e peno,' chromaticism is incorporated as a reflection of despair and loathing. 'Non so qual più m'ingombra' deviates from typical chamber cantatas in that the subject is not love, but the rapture of the birth of Christ. Recorded by the Arcadian Academy conducted by Nicholas McGegan, this is an exquisite performance of these often-overlooked chamber works for voice and continuo. At the forefront of a new wave of countertenors, Brian Asawa has a purity of tone, resembling a transparent veil, through which he brilliantly conveys the meanings of the text and music.
