Conductor Ivan Anguélov
slovak radio-symphony orchestra Bratislava
Nadezda Rakova (Chorus Master)
Chorus of the National Opera Bratislava

The origins of the opera chorus can be traced back to the Classical Greek theatre of Aeschylus, whree the chorus formed the basis of the drama. Tragedy and comedy were further developed in Ancient Greece in the works of Sophocles, Aristoteles, Euripides, Aristophanes and others, and the chorus was given an increasingly important role. It did not just comment on the behaviour and actions of the protagonists but also discussed, contradicted, rebuked, and gave advice as a participant in the plot.
During the Italian Renaissance in Florence at the end of the 16th century, a new theatre trend was born - "dramma per musica" later called "opera" (ital.: work, creation). It was intended as a revival of the principles of Ancient Greek drama, an "interdisciplinary" art work (combining literature, music, dance architecture, painting,...), in which the chorus once more played an important dramatic role. As the opera developed as a genre, the functions of the chorus were extended. It became a more active paricipant in the plot as the representative of various social groupings and was used to communicate communicated new ideological, political, moral and aesthetic ideas and aspects.
The selected extracts presented on this CD represent a arc of the high points of famous opera choruses from successive eras, ranging from Classicism to the variety of the Romantic period and Italian "Verismo".

Ivan Anguélov