A. Scarlatti: La Giuditta

As Gramophone noted of a recent Brilliant Classics issue, ‘Estévan Velardi and the Alessandro Scarlatti Consort have notched up an impressively broad discography of unjustly neglected Italian Baroque masters.’ This release presents a reissue of a recording made in 1995, the premiere for Giuditta. This is a two-act oratorio composed by Alessandro Scarlatti, who has been the particular focus of Velardi’s work on record, encompassing other treasurable discoveries issued on Brilliant Classics such as the Oratorio per La Santissima Trinità, Il dolore di Maria Vergine and San Filippo Neri, which was welcomed by Gramophone for ‘Velardi’s admirable zeal, worthy endeavor, natural pacing and the shapely string playing of his band.’ Giuditta is based on the Biblical story of Judith, a beautiful Israelite widow who insinuates herself within the camp of the conquering Assyrian tribe and deceives their general, Holofernes, before decapitating him and carrying off his head in triumph. This is the sec