Where Vivaldi is well-known, Ristori isn't. And yet, it is Ristori's part that strikes the attention on this record. The Messa per Il santissimo natale di Nostro Signore captivates the ear at first audition. No doubt you will be listening to this record time after time for a while.
This composer is now totally forgotten and this is a shame, considering the quality of the few pieces we have from him. We know very little about his birth date, except for a statement on his certificate of defunction (1652-1753), or even place. Was it Venice or Vienna? It could be either, considering the wanderings of his father Tommaso, director of a crew of Commedia dell'arte which toured both Italy and Central Europe. The name of young Ristori appears for the first time on occasion of the stage representation of his "pastoral drama" called Pallade trionfante in Arcadia in Padova, in 1713. He becomes rapidly famous through his operas: Orlando furioso (Venice 1713), Euristio (Bologna 1714), and Pigmalione (1714), sometimes at the cost of competing with Vivaldi, opera being at the time the only way to reach fame and retain it.
This set of 3 records is a gem, both in terms of content and from an artistic point of view. 50 better- or lesser-known hymns sung in four voices and accompanied by instruments. To enhance listening, the organ, oboe and trumpet play some preludes and interludes.
It is a pleasure to listen to, a great way to discover or rediscover part of the rich hymn heritage in French.
Icing on the cake: music lovers will find all the scores for those works available in this package. Unmissable!
Les plus beaux cantiques : 50 cantiques à 4 voix avec chœur et instruments, sans oublier les partitions. Une somme inégalée à ce jour. Ecoutez des extraits…
Des noëls anciens sur des harmonisations nouvelles. Minuit chrétiens, Puer natus, … le répertoire est riche et diversifié. Ecoutez des extraits…
Belle production de musique de l'Avent et Noël du XVIIIe siècle à Prague. Ecoutez des extraits…
Where Vivaldi is well-known, Ristori isn't. And yet, it is Ristori's part that strikes the attention on this record. The 
