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The Handel Album / Jaroussky


Release Date: 10/06/2017 
Label:  Erato   Catalog #: 564134  
Composer:  George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Number of Discs: 1 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

This album, which focuses on arias from Handel’s more rarely-performed operas, is the first that Philippe Jaroussky has devoted entirely to the composer – though his Erato discography already includes complete recordings of Faramondo, Partenope and, on DVD, Alcina, and arias by Handel feature on the countertenor’s Carestini: A Castrato’s Story. Praising Jaroussky in Handel, the New York Times has described him as “incomparable … thrilling of voice.”

Now, for the first time, Jaroussky brings his impeccable Handelian credentials to an entire album devoted to arias by the composer, who produced thirty-five operas for the London stage between 1711 and 1741. For all Handel’s current popularity, comparatively few of his operas are Read more performed with great regularity. Works such as Giulio Cesare, Alcina, Ariodante, Agrippina, Serse, Rodelinda, Rinaldo, Partenope, Orlando, and Tamerlano have achieved varying degrees of currency, but, apart from an aria from Rodelinda, Jaroussky’s new album puts the emphasis on operas we are less likely to hear in the theatre or concert hall: Amadigi di Gaula; Arianna in Creta; Flavio, re di Longobardi; Giustino; Imeneo; Radamisto (represented by no fewer than four arias); Riccardo primo, re d'Inghilterra; Siroe, re di Persia and Tolomeo, re di Egitto. A number of these operas were written for the famous castrato Senesino, who created many leading roles for Handel.

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REVIEW:

This exciting program of arias from the less familiar Handel operas demonstrates the extraordinary vocal range and skills of the Baroque-era castrati, which Jaroussky emulates in his singing, albeit with helpful transpositions to accommodate his lower range. Yet this is not all about brilliant technical displays and superior lung power, for Jaroussky also explores the expressive side of Handel's music. Erato's recording captures him with presence and clarity, and the orchestra has a luster that is enhanced by the responsive acoustics of Notre Dame du Liban, Paris.

– All Music Guide (Blair Sanderson) Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Imeneo, HWV 41: Se potessero i sospir' miei by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: England 
2.
Riccardo Primo, HWV 23: Agitato dal fiere tempeste by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1720; London, England 
3.
Siroe, Rč di Persia, HWV 24: Son stanco...Deggio morire by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1728; London, England 
4.
Serse, HWV 40: Si, la voglio by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: England 
5.
Radamisto, HWV 12: Ombra cara di mia sposa by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1712/1720; London, England 
6.
Radamisto, HWV 12: Vieni, d'empieta.... Vile! Se mi dai vita by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: England 
7.
Radamisto, HWV 12: Qual nave smarrita trŕ sirti by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1712/1720; London, England 
8.
Flavio, Rč di Longobardi, HWV 16: Rompo i lacci by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1723; London, England 
9.
Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11: Sussurrate, onde vezzose by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
10.
Tolomeo, HWV 25: Che piu si tarda omai by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1728; London, England 
11.
Tolomeo, HWV 25: Stille amare by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1728; London, England 
12.
Giustino, HWV 37: Se parla nel mio cor by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1737; London, England 
13.
Ezio, HWV 29: Pensa a serbarmi, oh cara by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
14.
Flavio, Rč di Longobardi, HWV 16: Bel contento by George Frideric Handel
Performer:  Philippe Jaroussky (Countertenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Artaserse
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1723; London, England 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 setting a new standard March 8, 2018 By Craig Smith (St. Clair Shores, MI) See All My Reviews "The most ravishingly beautiful Handel singing I have ever heard. A deeply moving musical experience." Report Abuse
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