FURY / MERCY

In FURY / MERCY, soprano Channa Malkin and early music ensemble La Sfera Armoniosa under the direction of Mike Fentross present a deeply personal and emotionally charged exploration of Antonio Vivaldi's vocal and instrumental works. Moving seamlessly between operatic arias, sacred motets, and concerti, this album delves into the extremes of the human emotional spectrum—from searing rage to tender compassion. The program opens with music from La fida ninfa, where betrayal and longing unfold through heartbreakingly intimate arias. It then journeys through the thunderous outcry of Armatae face et anguibus from Juditha Triumphans, into the serene and redemptive beauty of the motet In furore iustissimae irae. Along the way, the album draws on lesser-known Vivaldi gems—such as the Concerto in D Minor "Madrigalesco"—all chosen and interpreted with the intent to reveal the transformative power of emotion through music.