Search - Simon Mayr, Franz Hauk, Georgian Chamber Orchestra :: Mayr: Che Originali!

Great period piece and recomended for fans of bel canto.

B. Bork | Ontario, Canada | 04/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This one acter from Mayr is a delight for any interested in the development of bel canto. Mayr picks up where Paisiello and Cimarosa leave off and develops Italian opera towards the technique and style of Rossini, literaly. There's a brief phrase in the finale of this opera that Rossini picks up for use in Isabella's aria, "Per lui che adoro", in L'italiana in Algeri.



Cimarosa is the first composer who comes to mind when listening to Mayr's "Che Originali!" but he elaborates and advances Cimarosa's approach to melody into something that approaches the 1800's through to the 1820's. That being said, Mayr is still at the beginning of his career so this opera, while charming and rich, is still a bit off on timing and lacks that special punch bel canto delivers at it's best.



The performers are mostly competent with the lead tenor being an acquired taste. The instrumentation is great with the exception of the constant presence of the harpsichord which adds a dated feel to what should be a fresh and new sounding opera (as I like to think it would have been during its own time).



As a side note, this opera seemed to have had a great impact on composers of the time seeing as how another composer other than Rossini used a whole number from this opera. Opera Rara's title "100 Years of Italian Opera, 1800-1810" includes a terzetto by Fioravanti which was borrowed from Che Originali and slightly adapted for Fioravanti's own opera. The correlative track on this title is the duetto "Con pazienza sopportiamo" (the terzetto on the Rara recording has the same title)."