Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies – Herbert Blomstedt

   in Opera Now (Jul, 2015)
Another Baroque opera, this time completely obscure, is Leonardo Vinci’s Catone in Utica, premiered in Rome in 1728, during the period when a papal edict of 1588 had banned women from the stage – a long-lasting prohibition. Not a problem if one has an abundance of castrati to compose for, but one which might explain why this recording is a world premiere (instigated by Max Emanuel Cen?i?). The libretto is by Metastasio, with a vague nod to Plutarch, and concerns Julius Caesar’s defeat of Marcus Porcius Cato (Catone) with much fictional elaboration concerning Cato’s daughter secretly loving Caesar whilst betrothed to her father’s choice, Numidian prince Arbace. Obviously nothing will …