Axur, Re d'Ormus : Work information

The Composers

Antonio Salieri

He studied with Gassmann and others in Vienna, and also knew Gluck (who became his patron) and Metastasio.

In 1774 he succeeded Gassmann as court composer and conductor of the Italian opera; from 1788 he was also court Kapellmeister.

He made his reputation as a stage composer, writing operas for Vienna from 1768 and presenting several in Italy, 1778-80.

Later he dominated Parisian opera with three works of 1784-7; Tarare (1787), his greatest success, established him as Gluck's heir.

In 1790 he gave up his duties at the Italian opera.

As his style became old-fashioned his works lost favour, and he composed relatively little after 1804, but he remained a central and influential figure in Viennese musical Iife.

His many pupils included Beethoven, Schubert and Liszt.

There is little evidence of any intrigues against Mozart, still less of the charge of poisoning.

Salieri's circa 40 Italian operas are traditional in their emphasis on melodic expression, but they also show Gluck's influence, with dramatic choral writing, much accompanied recitative and careful declamation: some combine seria and buffa elements.

Among his many other compositions are oratorios, church music, cantatas, arias, vocal ensembles, songs and orchestral and chamber works.

Track listing

• Sinfonia 2:37 min
• Act I - Duet: 'Qui dove scherza l'aura...' 3:58 min
• Act I - Recit: 'Chi di noi più felice...' 2:41 min
• Act I - Recit-Aria: 'Perdermi? E chi potria...' 3:18 min
• Act I - Aria: 'Per te solo, amato bene...' 4:50 min
• Act II - Scene: 'Non mi seccar, Biscroma...' 3:19 min
• Act II - Aria: 'Coperto di sangue...' 2:40 min
• Act II - Aria: 'E' ben ver quel nome amato...' 3:06 min
• Act II - Chorus: 'Ne' più vaghi soggiorni dell'Asia...' 5:14 min
• Act II - Chorus: 'Si vada subito...' 1:29 min
• Act II - Recit-Aria: 'Pietade Signore, del misero Atar...' 3:07 min
• Act II - Aria: 'Soave luce di Paradiso...' 3:00 min
• Act II - Arioso: 'Dove andò quel maschio ardire...' 5:18 min
• Act II - Finale: 'Irza bella, e che ti arresta?' 6:47 min
• Act III - Aria: 'Tu fa che intanto uniscasi...' 2:14 min
• Act III - Arioso: 'O divina prudenza...' 2:13 min
• Act III - Aria: 'Da qual nuova sciagura...' 2:44 min
• Act III - Scene: 'Tu nel mar la cara sposa...' 1:17 min
• Act III - Aria: 'V'andrò, tutto si tenti...' 2:16 min
• Act III - Duet: 'Come ape ingegnosa...' 2:39 min
• Act III - March 1:22 min
• Act III - Aria: 'Re del persico mar...' 3:56 min
• Act III - Chorus: 'Atar il giovinetto...' 1:50 min
• Act III - Finale: 'Non partir, la scelta è ingiusta...' 6:30 min
• Act IV - Introduction 1:00 min
• Act IV - Recit: 'Cosa veggio!' 0:48 min
• Act IV - Scene: 'Non borbotto, parlo schietto...' 3:23 min
• Act IV - Aria: 'Come leon feroce...' 1:34 min
• Act IV - Terzetto: 'De sposarme ti ho promesso...' 8:05 min
• Act IV - Aria: 'Nato io son nello stato romano...' 6:04 min
• Act IV - Recit: 'In mezzo al mare...' 2:05 min
• Act IV - Aria: 'Salvo son, il merto n'hai...' 5:12 min
• Act IV - Aria: 'Pien d'amoroso foco...' 3:09 min
• Act IV - Arioso: 'Misero, abbietto negro...' 2:22 min
• Act IV - Arietta: 'Viva, viva Irza ritrosa...' 3:13 min
• Act IV - Scene: 'Dio difensor de' miseri...' 2:20 min
• Act IV - Recit: 'Come fuggir Fiammetta...' 3:33 min
• Act IV - Aria: 'Son queste le speranze...' 4:54 min
• Act IV - Arietta: 'Vanne del tuo signor...' 1:24 min
• Act IV - Duet: 'Salva me da tanta infamia...' 2:11 min
• Act IV - Recit: 'Di questa donna...' 1:43 min
• Act IV - Arietta: 'Guardami da lontano...' 1:11 min
• Act IV - Finale: 'Dunque un muto tu non sei...' 6:59 min
• Act V - Arioso: 'Idol vano d'un popol codardo...' 4:10 min
• Act V - Arioso: 'Morir posso una sol volta...' 2:26 min
• Act V - Recit: 'Non imputar la pena...' 1:42 min
• Act V - Duet: 'Barbaro, il mio coraggio...' 4:48 min
• Act V - Finale: 'Misero, i falli suoi...' 4:31 min