MENDELSSOHN: Die Hochzeit des Camacho – Anima Eterna, Der Junge Chor Aachen (2 CDs) Channel Classics

Mendelssohn ‘s Camacho: an opera to see with your eyes closed The (lengthy) letter which Mendelssohn sent to his librettist on 16 January 1824 bears witness to his precocious knowledge of the principles of theatrical writing. One can hardly believe that the author of this letter was only 15 years old. If we are sceptical at first, then we are dumbfounded when we look at the score: the brilliant characterization of the various roles, the inventive writing of the inner voices (Mendelssohn had acquired a Bach’s copy of St. Matthew Passion at the end of 1823), and the professionalism of the orchestration. A present-day performance, one with the instruments as Mendelssohn would have known it, shows the orchestration in an even more remarkable light, because the linear character of the string writing becomes clearer and the winds sound more colorful, even forming their own orchestra-within-an-orchestra, far more than would be the case in a performance with ‘modern’ instruments. The sixteen-year-old Mendelssohn drew more inspiration from the libretto than it actually contained. The music far overreaches the dramatic limitations of the text. Not only the solo and chorus parts, but also the orchestra are, as a result, so expressive that a careful staging of the piece would not even add that much to the total effect. The neglect with which this work has been treated and its resulting unfamiliarity are typical mistakes of the kind sometimes made by history; ‘Camacho’ may well be the most brilliant opera ever written by a youthful composer. It is an opera to see with your eyes closed.

Jos van Immersed, august 1993

01. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5: Overture (Molto allegro e vivace – Presto) 6:24
02. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 1. Duet, “Beglücktes Jugendleben” (Quiteria, Basilio) 2:51
03. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 2. Trio, “Wie? Ihr wagt es hier vermessen” (Carrasco, Quiteria, Basilio) 3:21
04. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 3. Aria, “Noch tröstet mich das Vorgefühl” (Basilio) 4:06
05. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 4. Duet, “So kehrst du wieder, Geliebter, mir treu?” (Lucinda, Vivaldo) 1:20
06. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 5. Lied, “Nur frischer Mut und klares Blut” (Vivaldo) 2:18
07. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 6. Chorus, “Viva Camacho, viva Quiteria … Bei Liebeln und Grübeln” (Chorus, Carrasco) 3:39
08. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 7. Septet, “Laß mich, o laß noch einmal begrüßen” (Quiteria, Basilio, Vivaldo, Lucinda, Carrasco, Camacho, Sancho Panza, Chorus) 4:56
09. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 8a. Chorus, “Viva Camacho, viva Quiteria” (Chorus, Sancho Panza) – No. 8b. Recitative, “So scheid’ ich denn von Haus und Dorf” (Basilio) 3:10
10. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 9. Lied, “Wer klopft so leise an die Tür?” (Quiteria) 5:40
11. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 10. Ensemble, “Dem sollen die Knochen im Leibe fliegen” (Camacho, Carrasco, Chorus) 5:47
12. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act I: No. 11. Finale, “Lasset euch winden, dunkle Zypressen … Viva die irrende Ritteschaft” (Basilio, Quiteria, Camacho, Carrasco, Lucinda, Vivaldo, Don Quixote, Sancho, Chorus) 20:53

CD 2

01. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 12. Chorus, “Frisch die Hände nur gerühret … Hat meine Nase mich nicht betrogen” (Chorus, Sancho Panza) 4:35
02. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 13. Lied, “Die schönste Braut im ganzen Land” (Sancho Panza, Chorus) 4:16
03. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 14. Chorus, “Richtend mag das Spiel entscheiden” (Chorus). Bolero. Fandango. “Ha, Tigerbrut! Die Unschuld wollt ihr morden?” (Don Quixote, Chorus) 15:21
04. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 15. Trio, “Was sollen mir die rätselhaften Worte?” (Quiteria, Lucinda, Sancho) 8:13
05. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 16. Chorus, “Nun zündet an geweihte Kerzen” 3:00
06. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 17. Ensemble, “Welche Stimme, welche Störung?” (Quiteria, Lucinda, Vivaldo, Camacho, Carrasco, Sancho, Chorus) 1:35
07. Die Hochzeit des Camacho, Op. 10, MWV L 5, Act II: No. 18. Finale, “Wie? betrogen?” (Camacho, Carrasco, Vivaldo, Basilio, Lucinda, Quiteria, Don Quixote, Sancho, Chorus) 8:58