Meet Ondřej Macek: Argippo Resurrected

Ondřej Macek is a Czech musician, harpsichordist, musicologist and researcher. It focuses mainly on the music of the Baroque period and especially on the opera production of the Baroque period. Since 1997, he has lived and worked at the castle in Český Krumlov, where he researches and interprets Baroque opera. 00:03 1.Český Krumlov castle Baroque theatre 12:13 2. Musicians 16:33 3. Opera reconstruction 28:22 4. Resurrection theory, Denzio-Peruzzi company 35:35 5. Discovery 41:37 6. Venice lecture 47:14 7. Instrumentation and roles 58:11 8. Final opera chorus Argippo resurrection: Several operas Vivaldi wrote specifically for Prague's patrons - including "Argippo". In the fall of 1730 the opera was heard in Counts Špork private theater for the first and for more than two centuries and three quarters last time. Unfortunately the score was lost and only the libretto survived. Then in 2006 Czech harpsichordist Ondrej Macek discovered around half the arias of the opera in the library of the counts of Thurn und Taxis, supplying the missing arias from the composer’s other operas of the period. Antonio Vivaldi's Argippo, RV 697, based on Stampa's version of the libretto, was staged in two different versions in 1730, first in Vienna (RV 697-A), and later in Prague (RV 697-B). Vivaldi was well-known as an opera composer in Prague in the 1720s and 30s. The impresario of the theatre company in Prague, the Venetian Antonio Denzio, was a friend of Vivaldi's and many of his singers had performed before coming to Prague in the Venetian premieres of Vivaldi's operas under the composer's direction. Vivaldi also acted as an agent for Denzio, sending him the scores of new operas across the Alps and recommending singers. The case of Argippo is quite complex, as only three arias known from other Vivaldi operas appear in the text of the libretto, which is today in the Prague National Library. The most recent research by the leading scholar of Italian opera Reinhard Strohm backs the idea that the celebrated Venetian probably also conducted the premiere of the work himself in Prague. In the search for the music to Argippo the key strategy was to follow the subsequent movements of Denzio's opera company. In the Baroque period it was usual for arias from popular operas to travel with their performers right through Europe, and so it was a reasonable assumption that some parts of Argippo might be found in music sources that had a connection with singers who had come from Prague. The next foreign venue where Denzio's company had appeared was Regensburg in Bavaria, where in 1733 the Prague opera performed two titles: Filindo and 11 Condannato Innocente. And two of the singers who had appeared in Agrippo three years before, the tenor and impresario himself Antonio Denzio and the mezzo--soprano Anna Cosimi took part. For Ondřej Macek the genius idea of a connection between Prague and Regensburg through the Denzio company turned out to be the major step forward in the search for the lost note material. An anonymous sheaf of arias, seven of them corresponding in texts to arias from the libretto of the Prague Argippo, was found in the Furst Thurn und Taxis Hofbibliothek in Regensburg. Study of the music confirmed that the author could have been none other than Antonio Vivaldi. More proof that these were arias from Vivaldi's Argippo was provided by analysis of all the known librettos on this theme. Argippo synopsis: The opera is set in an Indian royal court and centers around a young princess smitten by a dishonest suitor. It has three acts and lasts over two hours. By baroque standards the opera is rather short, it lasts just two hours with only eighteen arias. The plot concerns disputes within the family of Tisifaro the Grand Mogor, who is ruler of a part of the East Indies. His only daughter Zanaida is loved by two princes, Silvero and Argippo. Whilst Argippo is away Silvero tricks Zanaida into thinking he is Argippo and she yields to his desires. Argippo falls in love with Osira and marries her. When he returns to the court of the Grand Mogor with his new wife, Zanaida becomes convinces that Argippo is faithless. Silvero’s deceit is discovered, Osira’s life is placed in danger and Silvero saves her. Two princes advertise in "Argippo" for the love of a princess. It tells the story of two princes confusion, holding the hand of a princess - it's about love, honor, cunning, and passion. Catalog: Argippo – RV 697 Opera in 3 Acts Original language: Italian Playing time: ca. 2 hours Premiere: 1730, Prague, Theatre Count Franz Anton von Sporck Cast Recording: Hofmusici Baroque Ensemble Ondrej Macek, Director/performer Veronika Mracková Fuciková (Agrippo), Mezzo-soprano Pavla Stepnicková (Zanaida), Mezzo-soprano Jana Binove-Koucká (Osira), Soprano Barbora Sojková (Silvero), Soprano, Zdenek Kapl (Tisifaro) - Baryton Recorded: 2008