Antonio Sacchini’s renowned melodic gifts and facility as a composer were developed amid the flourishing Neapolitan school of opera but, outgrowing the Italian tradition, he later found inspiration working in London and Paris. The oratorio L’abbandono delle ricchezze di S. Filippo Neri narrates the spiritual trials of St Philip Neri as he is hounded by the personifications of Splendour and Deception on his journey, assisted and defended by Poverty, towards God and virtue. First performed in 1765, L’abbandono is heard here in its world-premiere recording.

Antonio Sacchini is notably under-represented in recordings, with just one or two of his numerous operas and some chamber music more or less currently available on disc. Our 2006 release of his opera Oedipe à Colone (866019697) remains a standard-bearer as ‘one of those relatively rare instances where an “unearthed gem” reveals an opera that once rightfully belonged to the main course, rather than just an interesting side dish’ (AllMusic.com).

This performance is directed by Franz Hauk, who is well known for his revivals of the music of Johann Simon Mayr in numerous Naxos recordings that include the oratorio David in spelunca Engaddi (857036667), a recording summed up as ‘richly rewarding’ by MusicWeb International.

This recording also brings together a strong cast of soloists, with the lead role of St Philip taken by the supremely versatile soprano Yeree Suh, who has worked with the likes of Sigiswald Kuijken, Philippe Herreweghe, Ton Koopman and Masaaki Suzuki. Tenor Markus Schäfer has appeared on many of Hauk’s recordings and received a Grammy Award for his performance in Bach’s St Matthew Passion.

Born in Neuburg an der Donau in 1955, Franz Hauk studied church and school music, with piano and organ, at the Munich Musikhochschule and in Salzburg. In 1988 he took his doctorate with a thesis on church music in Munich at the beginning of the 19th century. From 1982 to 2021 he served as organist at Ingolstadt Minster, and since 1995 also as choirmaster. He has given concerts in Europe and the United States and made a number of recordings including several premieres of works by Johann Simon Mayr.

Cast:
- S. Filippo: Yeree Suh (soprano)
- Pvertà: Ketevan Chuntishvili (soprano)
- Fasto: Markus Schäfer (tenor)
- Inganno: Daniel Ochoa (bass)