Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Profumo Di Violetta: Gianluigi Trovesi all’opera (2008)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:01:24 minutes | 1,05 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © ECM
Italy’s great musical archaeologist and one of the outstanding improvisers of his country, Gianluigi Trovesi with “Profumo di Violetta” indulges in his love for the emotional drama and musical beauty of Italian opera. (The title simultaneously alludes to the protagonist of Verdi’s famous opera “La traviata” and to the flower’s sweet perfume.) Accompanied by the characteristic North-Italian provincial “banda”, a large wind orchestra with percussion as we find it in the on-stage-music of most Verdi operas, Trovesi takes us on a humorous journey through the history of the genre.
It starts with Monteverdi’s “Orfeo”, includes many highlights from “La traviata” before briefly visiting Mascagni and Puccini.
The popular and the sublime, irony and unrestrained pathos meet with an improvisational spirit that conveys the pure joy of music making. One of the most unorthodox albums in this year’s release schedule, Trovesi’s opera project is likely to win many enthusiastic listeners among opera lovers and open-minded jazz enthusiasts.
Jazz reed player Gianluigi Trovesi traces his fascination with music to the amateur but passionate performances of his town band when he was a child; he recalls one player who responded so emotionally to the music that he shook and couldn’t continue playing. He pays homage to that ensemble in this album, which uses a band to accompany his solos, in pieces that are mostly arranged from operatic selections. The broad eclecticism of his approach is exemplified in his description of the 21st and 22nd tracks: “Iberian colors punctuate the chapter entitled ‘La gelosia,’ with the preparation for Mascagni that includes the appearance of a twelve-tone row introduced by the trumpet…, of the Habanera by Bizet.” Trovesi is successful because the arrangements (most of which are his, but some of which are by others) are unpretentious and either whimsical or artlessly soulful. The album draws heavily on early opera, particularly Monteverdi, so those tracks sound something like a jazzed-up, loose-limbed version of Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances. Trovesi’s playing is subtle and self-effacing, although he has considerable opportunities to shine in his jazz riffs, he always stays within the character of the originals. The sound is excellent, as would be expected from ECM’s Manfred Eicher. The high quality of the playing, arrangements, and production values makes this a crossover album that should have broad appeal, because none of the types of music being merged are compromised in the process, but come across as being freshly imagined. –AllMusic Review by Stephen Eddins
Tracklist:
01. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Alba (01:31)
02. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Toccata (01:49)
03. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Musa (01:36)
04. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Euridice (03:27)
05. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Ninfe avernali (02:33)
06. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Ritornello (00:53)
07. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Frammenti orfici (03:47)
08. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Intrecciar ciaccone (03:30)
09. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – “Pur ti miro” (04:15)
10. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – “Stizzoso, mio stizzoso” (01:40)
11. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Vespone (03:46)
12. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Profumo di Violetta – Part I (01:35)
13. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – “Ah, fors’è lui che l’anima” (02:19)
14. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Profumo di Violetta – Part II (02:35)
15. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Violetta e le altre (01:50)
16. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – “È piquillo, un bel gagliardo” (00:42)
17. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Salterellando (01:03)
18. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Antico saltarello (00:32)
19. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Salterello amoroso (04:04)
20. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – “Largo al factotum” (02:58)
21. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Aspettando compar alfio (05:03)
22. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – “Il Cavallo Scalpita” (00:55)
23. Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Remondini, Stefano Bertoli, Filarmonica Mousiké, Savino Acquaviva – Così, Tosca (08:52)
