HAYDN: Ritorno di Tobia, Oratorio (Anders J. Dahlin/ Andreas Spering/ Ann Hallenberg/ Capella Augustina/ Cologne Vocal Ensemble/ Nikolay Borchev/ Roberta Invernizzi/ Sophie Karthauser/ Wolfgang Mitlehner) (Naxos: 8.570300-02)

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Although Haydn's place in the history of the oratorio has been secured by his great vocal masterpieces The Creation (Naxos 8.557380-81) and The Seasons (8.557600-01), his first oratorio, Il ritorno di Tobia (The Return of Tobias), is among the better-kept secrets of music history. The Italian libretto deals with the return of Tobias and the curing of his blind father, an exceptionally popular story in eighteenth century Vienna. With its vivid portrayal of the protagonists' emotional turmoil, achieved largely through wide-ranging arias of great virtuosity, Il ritorno di Tobia is a work of considerable beauty and dramatic impact. This recording includes the two magnificent choruses 'Ah gran Dio!' and 'Svanisce in un momento' written for a performance of Tobia in 1784.