Pergolesi: L'Olimpiade – review

Milanesi/Pasichnyk/Solvang/Rivera/Academia Montis Regalis/De Marchi(Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, 3 CDs)We owe the rediscovery of Pergolesi's 1735 opera about the Olympics not so much to the build-up to next year's games in London, but to the composer's tercentenary in 2010. It's a long work (four hours), and even by 18th-century standards, its narrative is convoluted. The athlete Magacle is competing – and cheating – in the games to win, on behalf of his friend Licida, the hand of Aristea, whic...

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