Handel: Ariodante [Box set]

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Lorraine Hunt (Performer), Juliana Gondek (Performer), Lisa Saffer (Performer), Jennifer Lane (Performer), Nicolas Cavallier (Performer), Rufus Muller (Performer), Jorn Lindemann (Performer), Nicholas McGegan (Conductor), Freiburger Barockorchester (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: HAM
• ASIN: B0000007ET
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,794 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious singing - a baroque masterpiece, April 18, 2002

By 

Ed Beveridge (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Ariodante (Audio CD)

OK - my turn to join the McGegan - Minkowski debate. This is the first Ariodante I heard on disc (having already encountered the piece in the theatre). For those not familiar with it, it is set in the dark and forbidding world of mediaeval Scotland. The King's daughter (Ginevra) is set to marry a vassal prince, Ariodante. His rival in love, Polinesso, Duke of Albany, convinces Ariodante that Ginevra is unfaithful and Ariodante commits suicide. Or does he? As soon as Polinesso claims the hand of the distracted Ginevra, Ariodante reappears - and they all live happily ever after.

Or they would if this weren't a dark and deeply disturbing work. It is a procession of simply stunning arias and unusually the act ends consist of dances which thread through the work. It really is Handel's best music - Ariodante's ten-minute showstopper, Scherza Infida (with glorious bassoon obbligato) and Ginevra's achingly simple plea to her cruel father, Io ti bacio, are among the greatest glories of the Baroque.

And there is no shortage of Baroque specialists to do the work justice. McGegan's recording is based on a production from the Swedish Gottingen festival, and it is very much a period-style set, with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra giving an extremely tight, almost austere performance. McGegan's tempi are almost magically correct, without seeming middle of the road and never rushing the singers. The dance music's internal pulses are unerringly caught.

He fields a fine and in some cases exceptional cast of baroque singers, many of them familiar from Harmonia Mundi's other Handel recordings. Rightly, the title character stands at the centre in a searingly complete performance from Lorraine Hunt (now Lorraine Hunt Lieberson). Without the glorious vocal endowment of others (eg Von Otter) she sings a technically perfect and fabulously musical hero, her naturally dark and melancholy sound just right for this introspective character. Her coloratura is flawless without ever being showy for the sake of it. It's a truly great performance and bears repeated hearings for the sheer expressive detail she finds. Jennifer Land, as Polinesso, provides a creepily assured villain, descending to the baritone depths with aplomb. Juliana Gondek is agile and touching as Ginevra, a slightly anonymous tone aside, and Lisa Saffer gives a rounded portrayl of the perfidious Dalinda - with bell-like, rounded tone.

Altogether this is a very classy set indeed. For me, it is the best available, though there are others running very close (eg Minkowski - of which more elsewhere). For a truly glorious Baroque recording, don't hesitate.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sensational recording!, May 10, 2000

By 

J. Luis Juarez Echenique "pepechenique" (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Ariodante (Audio CD)

This is one of the finest recordings ever made of a Handel opera, and a great vehicle for the star mezzosoprano. Lorraine Hunt has turned into one of the great singers of our time, and as Ariodante she shines with confidence through out this very demanding role. She has nothing to fear to Anne Sofie von Otter in the rival Minkowski recording, for voice quality both are stupendous instruments, but Hunt is even more stylish than Otter in the fioriture of the da capo arias. The rest of the cast is admirable even if Minkowski has the finer Ginevra in Lynne Dawson, but McGegan has the better orchestra in the crack Freiburger Barockorchester, one of the very best period bands around. McGegan reading is more relaxed but no less exciting than Minkowski, who certainly rushes tempos more than is needed. Both recordings serve Handel well, but I think the Harmonia Mundi is the best library choice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent performances by all, June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Handel: Ariodante (Audio CD)

In short, this is an excellent recording of a fine Handel opera. Lorraine Hunt is superb in her singing and characterization. One of the major surprises for me was the menacing characterization and the beautiful singing of Jennifer Lane. The cast was chosen well and blended terrifically. Buy this CD!!