Michael Nyman: 8 Lust Songs - Sonetti Lussuriosi

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Editor's info:
The latest release on mn records is 8 Lust Songs - I sonetti lussuriosi' released 2nd June 2008. It is a song cycle, commissioned by the 2007 Venice Biennale. It was first performed by Marie Angel with the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia, conducted by the composer, in the Arsenale, Venice, on 4 October 2007.

Nyman's music is set to the erotic poems of the 16th century poet Pietro Aretino.

The poems were inspired by Marcantonio Raimondi's engravings of couples in various positions of sexual intercourse. The poems and engravings have been called a Renaissance equivalent of the Kama Sutra. They caused huge outrage at the time of publication, banned by the Papal authorities and nearly all copies destroyed. They are the most important erotic texts of the period and have gone on to inspire writers and artists alike for centuries.

Marie Angel sings the male and female roles. As Nyman composed the music the words came to life for Marie and the characters revealed themselves to her. Her interpretation is thus not only key but unique, colourful and very entertaining.