Handel Duets

Handel Duets - Chandos Records - CHA 0767 - 095115076729

Label: Chandos Records
Catalog No: CHA 0767
Format: CD
Release Date: 2010-03-30
Number of Discs: 1
Running time: 1 hr. 3 min.
Mono/Stereo: Stereo
UPC Code: 095115076729

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Audio Samples

>Handel, George Frideric : Radamisto, HWV 12a
>     Se teco vive il cor
>Handel, George Frideric : Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi, HWV 19
>     Io t'abbraccio
>Handel, George Frideric : Solomon, HWV 67
>     Welcome as the dawn of day
>Handel, George Frideric : Theodora, HWV 68
>     Streams of pleasure ever flowing
>     To Thee, thou glorious son of worth
>Handel, George Frideric : Ottone, re di Germania, HWV 15
>     Notte cara!
>Handel, George Frideric : Ariodante, HWV 33
>     Bramo haver mille vite
>Handel, George Frideric : Belshazzar, HWV 61
>     Great victor, at your feet I bow
>Handel, George Frideric : Tamerlano, HWV 18
>     Vivo in te
>Handel, George Frideric : Sosarme, re di Media, HWV 30
>     Per le porte del tormento
>Handel, George Frideric : Agrippina, HWV 6
>     No, no ch'io non apprezzo
>Handel, George Frideric : Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17
>     Caro! Bella!

Album Summary

>Handel, George Frideric : Radamisto, HWV 12a
>Handel, George Frideric : Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi, HWV 19
>Handel, George Frideric : Solomon, HWV 67
>Handel, George Frideric : Theodora, HWV 68
>Handel, George Frideric : Ottone, re di Germania, HWV 15
>Handel, George Frideric : Ariodante, HWV 33
>Handel, George Frideric : Belshazzar, HWV 61
>Handel, George Frideric : Tamerlano, HWV 18
>Handel, George Frideric : Sosarme, re di Media, HWV 30
>Handel, George Frideric : Agrippina, HWV 6
>Handel, George Frideric : Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17
Performers Conductor Ensemble Composer

Notes & Reviews:

This new Handel collection features two great singers alongside the English Concert, arguably the best baroque orchestra in the UK. Duets play a key role in Handel's stage works. The programme offers a carefully chosen selection of Handel operas from his operas Giulio Cesare, Belshazzar , Theodora, Ottone, Sosarme, Radimisto, Rodelinda, Agrippina and Tamerlano. Sarah Connolly CBE has become a highly sought-after performer on the operatic stage in a wide range of repertoire. Rosemary Joshua is especially highly regarded for her Handel roles. With a combination of such forces, this album is sure to make for a must-have for all Handel enthusiasts.

"There is no end of musical variety in this program - and not much duplication with other programs. Above all, the music is simply captivating...It would be hard to find two more fitting exponents of these duets than Joshua and Connolly, among the leading Handel singers in England today; nor could there be any more sympathetic and stylish supporter than the expert Handel conductor Bicket, who leads a rich pool of 25 period-instrument players, himself at harpsichord or organ. The recorded sound is beautiful. The booklet gives excellent notes, with context for each piece, and full texts with translations. Truly, a perfect release!" - Amercan Record Guide

"The playing is crisp and the singing polished and stylish, with Joshua, in particular, conveying infectious delight in this sophisticated music." -BBC Music Magazine ****

"Connolly and Joshua are as outstanding a pair of Handel singers as one is likely to hear...The English Concert and Harry Bicket provide understated and efficient accompaniment...fans of both composer and these two singers will be enchanted by the highly accomplished music-making." -Gramophone Magazine

Notes & Reviews:

Recording information: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, E (07/20/2009-07/23/2009).



Reviews

Handel duets done right
For all the Handel aria discs that have flooded the market in the last few years, recordings of duets from the composer’s operas and oratorios are rare. This is partly because Handel wrote so few, by the standards of dramatic music written later in the eighteenth century and beyond - the audiences of Handel’s time favored the virtuosity and improvised ornamentation that a star singer could unleash in solo arias. An opera seria would normally feature one or two duets, and sometimes none at all, though in Handel’s oratorios this convention was somewhat slackened, and the number of ensembles increased. The disc features duets from Handel’s London operas, as well as from the English oratorios Belshazzar, Solomon, and Theodora. Rosemary Joshua and Sarah Connolly are pleasingly matched, Connolly’s masculine, darkly-hued mezzo offsetting Joshua’s warmly dulcet soprano. I am not especially fond of Connolly’s voice, which can sound cool and slightly world-weary, but she interprets her lines with intelligence and flair. The music itself is heavenly, and smooth and unfussy direction by Bicket allows it to breathe.
Submitted on 05/05/10 by Berna Can 
"Streams of pleasure..."
When two of today's Handel specialists come into the studio with a leading period instruments band, the results are likely to be special--and so it proves here. Though it's hard to tell from their booklet bios how often Rosemary Joshua and Sarah Connolly have sung together, they blend very nicely indeed, and Harry Bicket's English Consort are more than mere accompanists. Selections, alternating between English and Italian, come from operas and oratorios in a variety of moods. Joshua makes some lovely soft sounds at the top of the staff, and Connolly produces her lowest notes without a trace of "honk." Sound is excellent, and all sung texts are included, with translations. My only complaint is that there was surely room on this disc for another duet or two. (Is that being greedy?)
Submitted on 05/08/10 by Jim D. 
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Works Details

>Handel, George Frideric : Radamisto, HWV 12a :: Se teco vive il cor
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Organ); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 3 min. 15 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1720

>Handel, George Frideric : Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi, HWV 19 :: Io t'abbraccio
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 6 min. 53 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1725

>Handel, George Frideric : Solomon, HWV 67 :: Welcome as the dawn of day
  • Performers: Harry Bicket (Organ); Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 3 min. 10 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Cantata/Oratorio
  • Written: 1748

>Handel, George Frideric : Theodora, HWV 68 :: Streams of pleasure ever flowing
  • Performers: Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 6 min. 48 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Cantata/Oratorio
  • Written: 1749

>Handel, George Frideric : Ottone, re di Germania, HWV 15 :: Notte cara!
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 4 min. 36 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1722

>Handel, George Frideric : Theodora, HWV 68 :: To Thee, thou glorious son of worth
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Organ); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 4 min. 55 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Cantata/Oratorio
  • Written: 1749

>Handel, George Frideric : Ariodante, HWV 33 :: Bramo haver mille vite
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Organ); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 4 min. 51 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1734

>Handel, George Frideric : Belshazzar, HWV 61 :: Great victor, at your feet I bow
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 4 min. 58 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Cantata/Oratorio
  • Written: 1744

>Handel, George Frideric : Tamerlano, HWV 18 :: Vivo in te
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 7 min. sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1724

>Handel, George Frideric : Sosarme, re di Media, HWV 30 :: Per le porte del tormento
  • Performers: Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 7 min. 33 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1732

>Handel, George Frideric : Agrippina, HWV 6 :: No, no ch'io non apprezzo
  • Performers: Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Harry Bicket (Organ); Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 3 min. 53 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1709

>Handel, George Frideric : Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 :: Caro! Bella!
  • Performers: Harry Bicket (Harpsichord); Sarah Connolly; Rosemary Joshua (Soprano); Harry Bicket (Organ)
  • Conductor: Harry Bicket
  • Ensemble: The English Concert
  • Notes: Church of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England (07/20/2009-07/23/2009)
  • Running Time: 4 min. 50 sec.
  • Period Time: Baroque
  • Form: Opera/Operetta
  • Written: 1724