Barbara Strozzi - Duets for Two Sopranos (Dorothee Mields; Hana Blažíková)

Information

Composer: Barbara Strozzi

1. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 13, L'amante modesto "Volano frettolosi i giorni e presto"
2. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 1, Sonetto proemio dell'opera "Mercé di voi, mia fortunata stella"
3. Diporti di Euterpe, Op. 7: No. 4, Lagrime mie, lamento
4. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 18, Al battitor di bronzo della sua crudellissima dama "Quante volte ti bacio, o bronzo amato"
5. Cantate e ariette, Op. 3: No. 9, Begli occhi
6. Cantate, ariette e duetti, Op. 2: No. 14, L'eraclito amoroso
7. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 9, Godere e tacere "Gioisca al gioir nostro e l'aura e l'onda"
8. Cantate, ariette e duetti, Op. 2: No. 16, L'amante segreto
9. Cantate, ariette e duetti, Op. 2: No. 3, Il Romeo
10. Cantate e ariette, Op. 3: No. 2, Moralità amorosa
11. Ariette a voce sola, Op. 6: No. 17, Sospira, respira
12. Diporti di Euterpe, Op. 7: No. 9, Tradimento
13. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 6, Silentio nocivo "Dolcissimi respiri"
14. Cantate e ariette, Op. 3: No. 1, Cuore che reprime alla lingua di manifestare il nome della sua cara
15. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 21, Dal pianto de gli amanti scherniti "Mordeva un bianco lino Aci dolente"
16. Susanne un jour
17. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 10, Libertà "Non ci lusinghi più"
18. Madrigali, Op. 1, Book I: No. 12, Godere in gioventù "Nel bel fior di gioventù"
19. Cantate, ariette e duetti, Op. 2: No. 9, La vendetta
20. Cantate, ariette e duetti, Op. 2: No. 23, I baci

Dorothee Mields & Hana Blažíková, sopranos

Hathor Consort

Romina Lischka, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: CPO

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Venetian Barbara Strozzi (1619–1677) achieved recognition as both an artist and composer without the need for social emancipation, despite her illegitimate birth. Adopted by her father, a writer who ensured she received a thorough education, Strozzi was able to develop her exceptional talents fully. A distinguished pupil of Francesco Cavalli, she became an established figure in Venice’s cultural life and was able to publish her works under her own name—an uncommon achievement for a woman of her time. Her music, celebrated for its emotional depth and intimacy, was warmly received by contemporary audiences and remains a testament to her artistic stature.

Born in Gelsenkirchen in 1971 to German and Ukrainian parents, Dorothee Mields is a distinguished soprano renowned for her interpretations of 17th- and 18th-century music. After early studies in violin and piano, she received vocal training in Essen and Bremen, where she developed a deep affinity for early music, and later continued her studies with Julia Hamari in Stuttgart. Mields has appeared in numerous opera and concert productions, including Monteverdi’s Orfeo at the Vienna Festival, and has collaborated with leading conductors such as Thomas Hengelbrock, Philippe Herreweghe, and Gustav Leonhardt. She has an extensive discography and is widely regarded as a leading interpreter of early song repertoire.

Born in Prague in 1980, Hana Blažíková is a leading figure on the international early music scene. A graduate of the Prague Conservatory, where she studied with Jiří Kotouč, she specializes in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque repertoire. She performs regularly as a soloist with many of the world’s foremost early music ensembles and appears at major international festivals across Europe and beyond. Blažíková has collaborated with distinguished conductors and orchestras, including performances of Bach under Herbert Blomstedt, and tours extensively worldwide. In addition to her vocal work, she plays Gothic and Romanesque harp and has appeared on more than forty recordings.