BONONCINI / La Nemica d'Amore

CD BONONCINI / La Nemica d'Amore Ensemble 415; Chiara Banchini

Giovanni Bononcini and Alessandro Scarlatti were the most important Italian composers of cantatas in the early eighteenth century. The serenata «La Nemica d'Amore fatta Amante» (The enemy of love being falling in love) contributed to Bononcini's international reputation (he was 23). He later became Handel's rival in London.
The interest of this serenata stands in the beauty of the arias, the very fresh spirit of the libretto - Clori (nymph) is told by the Satyr Fileno to despise love whereas she discovers with Tirsi the shepherd, the happiness of love, provoking Fileno's jealousy...- and rich orchestral accompaniement.
A 'Sinfonia in Concerto Grosso' opens with 2 soloists 'teorbos. One of Clori's arias is colla parte with Chiara Banchini's solo violin, one of Tirsi's is with cello solo (Giovanni Bononcini was a cellist). Arias both begin and end with orchestra ritornelli. All this stresses the unique colourful and ornamental style of Ensemble 415.