The Garden of Love
Alessandro Scarlatti’s seldom heard serenata
A. Scarlatti – Porpora – Mancini – D. Scarlatti
Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano
Susanne Langner, alto
Finnish Baroque Orchestra
The stories from Antique mythology inspired Baroque composers to write incredibly beautiful and touchingly dramatic music. The adventures of deities and legendary heroes were modified countless times in opera universes, and these mythical stories still engage listeners in our time with their humanity.
The serenata Il giardino d’amore (The Garden of Love) by the master of Italian opera, Alessandro Scarlatti, is based on the story of Venus, goddess of love, and the strikingly handsome youngster Adonis.
Serenatas, with smaller ensembles than operas, were often performed outdoors. During the intermission, the audience was served generous amounts of food and drinks. Scarlatti’s miniature opera, composed in the early 18th century, is now performed for the first time in Finland, and the performance is completed by instrumental music by Neapolitan composers Francesco Mancini, Nicola Porpora and Domenico Scarlatti, swelling with Southern joie de vivre.
The roles of Venus and Adonis will be sung by soprano Tuuli Lindeberg, the Finnish audience’s long-time favourite, and German alto Susanne Langner, who charmed the audience in the House of Nobility on her last visit to Finland.
Duration: 2 h (incl. intermission)
Petteri Pitko introduces the concert at the House of Nobility on 14.2. from 18–18.30.