Nicolò Francesco Leonardo Grimaldi, known as the “Cavalier Nicolino” or just “Nicolino” (1673-1732), was a famous Italian castrato, whose lifelong association with Haendel is widely documented: it was he who sung for the 1711 premiere of the Caro Sassone’s Rinaldo in London, followed by the same composer’s Amadigi du Gaula a few years later. The very same Nicolino premiered all the other works on this album, here sung by the Italian countertenor Carlo Vistoli, a tribute to Nicolino’s fame throughout his life, including in the later years when he crossed paths with Pergolesi for La Salustia – probably not singing the first roles, as he was no longer a young man, but his outstanding stage presence seems to have designated him for important secondary character roles. Alas, poor Nicolino… the unfortunate castrato passed away at the untimely age of 59 during the rehearsals, so that Pergolesi had to find a last-minute replacement singer, for whom the arias were duly reshaped. In any case, all these arias, destined in one way or another for Nicolò Grimaldi, bear the mark of the extraordinary virtuosity which must have been his, and which is now that of Carlo Vistoli, presented as "the Rising star of baroque opera". © SM/Qobuz