''Ester, liberatrice del popolo ebreo'' (''
Esther, Liberator of the Jewish People'') is a 1673 Italian-language
oratorio by
Alessandro Stradella
Antonio Alessandro Boncompagno Stradella (Bologna, 3 July 1643 – Genoa, 25 February 1682) was an Italian composer of the middle Baroque period. He enjoyed a dazzling career as a freelance composer, writing on commission, and collaborating with ...
. The only surviving manuscript lacks the original
ritornellos and some closed numbers. It was performed in
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, New York City, in 1985, and recorded by Italian early music group Il Concento, under Luca Franco Ferrari in 2001, later released on
Brilliant Classics in 2012. The work was not performed again in New York City until 2019 and 2020, when it was produced and presented by Salon/Sanctuary Concerts at Brotherhood Synagogue, garnering both scholarly and critical praise
and for both outings. Navona Records released a complete CD of the oratorio in July 2024. The cast includes Jessica Gould, Sonia Tedla,
José Lemos
José Lemos (born 22 November 1974) is a Brazilian countertenor.
Life and career
José Lemos was born in Bagé, Brazil. He received his B.A. in music from the College of Charleston, completed his master's degree at the New England Conservatory in ...
, Gabriele Lombardi, and Salvo Vitale, conducted by
Jory Vinikour.
Recordings
* Alessandro Stradella: ''Ester'' – Luca Franco Ferrari, conductor; Silvia Piccollo, Elisa Franzetti, Vicky Norrington, Riccardo Ristori, Matteo Armanino; Il Concerto Luca Franco Ferrari; 22–36 November 2001, Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Torbi di Ceranesi, Genova.
Brilliant Classics Cat: 94297
* Alessandro Stradella: ''Ester Liberatrice del Popolo Ebreo'' – Jory Vinikour, direction; Jessica Gould, Sonia Tedla, José Lemos, Gabriele Lombardi, Salvo Vitale; Camerata Grimani, recorded 2023 Scuola della Carità, Padova
Navona Records, Cat: NV6629
References
External links
*
{{Portal bar, Classical music
Oratorios
Compositions by Alessandro Stradella
1673 oratorios