Beskrivning
Pietro Metastasio’s libretto to “azione sacra“ La Passione di Gesù Cristo [1730] is a prototype for the Italian Catholic oratorio of the 18th century, in which the Biblical text is entirely transformed into free verse. Originally written for Antonio Caldara, the text has been set to music many times. However, the famous poet wrote in a letter to the 26-year-old composer that the setting, in the style of Italian Opera seria, was ”the most expressive music that has ever been written for this poem.” German and English translations of the libretto are provided in this edition.
