J. C. Bach: La Clemenza di Scipione. (Opera And Oratorio).(Johann Christian Bach)(Sound Recording Review)

[] Perillo, Wolff; Waschinski, M. Schafer, Mammel; Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert, Max. Text and translations. CPO 999791-2 (2) (Naxos, dist.)

Johann Christian Bach made his name in the one genre his famous father didn't pursue--namely, Italian opera. In addition to isolated arias and pasticcios, Bach fils wrote ten complete works, for London (five), Mannheim (two), Naples (two) and Turin (one), plus one French adaptation for Paris. La Clemenza di Scipione, on a Metastasian libretto by an unknown author, was Bach's last Italian opera, given its premiere in 1778 in London at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket.

The uncomplicated plot involves the eventual pardon by the Roman conqueror Scipione of his female captives and their champion Luceio. Each of the three acts doses with an ensemble; otherwise we are in aria-land, with a few accompanied recitatives to heighten the drama. There are plenty of excellent pieces, especially in Acts II and III, including a killer aria for the heroine ("Infelice, in van"), imitated by Mozart in "Martern aller Arten" (from 1782), and a big rondo for the male-soprano hero ("Nel partir, bell'idol mio"), possibly inspiring Fiordiligi's rondo "Per pieta, ben ...