Handel Arias for Cuzzoni, Durastanti, Senesino & Montagnana [Box set, Import]

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Nicolas McGegan (Conductor), Philharmonia Baroque (Orchestra), Lisa Saffer (Performer), Lorraine Hunt (Performer), Drew Minter (Performer), David Thomas (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Lisa Saffer, Lorraine Hunt, Drew Minter, David Thomas
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Baroque
• Conductor: Nicolas McGegan
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (July 10, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Import
• 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: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B0000007HV
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,505 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Arias For Cuzzoni: Spietati, io vi giurai (Rodelinda II, 3)

2. Arias For Cuzzoni: Ombre, piante, urne funeste! (Rodelinda I, 7)

3. Arias For Cuzzoni: Il volo cosi fido (Riccardo Primo III, 8)

4. Arias For Cuzzoni: Accomp.: Che sento? - Aria: Se pieta (Guilio Cesare II, 8)

5. Arias For Cuzzoni: Recit.: E pur cosi - Aria: Piangero (Guilio Cesare III, 3)

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Arias For Durastanti: Recit.: Favorevol la sorte - Aria: Ogni vento (Agrippina II, 20)

2. Arias For Durastanti: Pensieri, voi mi tomentate (Agrippina II, 13)

3. Arias For Durastanti: Ombra cara di mia sposa (Radamisto II, 2)

4. Arias For Durastanti: Recit.: Oh Dio! parte Zenobia - Aria: Qual nave (Radamisto III, 1)

5. Arias For Durastanti: Accopm.: Io d'altro regno - Aria: Dimmi, crudele Amore (Muzio Scevola III, 3)

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Arias For Senesino: Va tacito (Guilio Cesare I, 9)

2. Arias For Senesino: Non e si vago e bello (Guilio Cesare I, 7)

3. Arias For Senesino: Vivi, tiranno (Rodelinda III, 4)

4. Arias For Senesino: Recit.: Che piu si tarda omai - Accomp.: Inumano fratel - Aria: Stille amare (Tolomeo III, 6)

5. Arias For Senesino: Recit.: Nube, che il Sole - Aria: Si fugge il duol (Riccardo Primo II, 7)

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Arias For Montagnana: Recit.: Perche tanto tormento? - Aria: Se un bell'ardire (Ezio I, 6)

2. Arias For Montagnana: Accomp.: Folle e colui - Aria: Nasce al bosco Ezio II, 8)

3. Arias For Montagnana: Recit.: Che indegno! - Aria: Gią risonar (Ezio III, 13)

4. Arias For Montagnana: Recit.: Addio, principe scrupoloso - Aria: Fra l'ombre e gli orrori (Sosarme I, 5)

5. Arias For Montagnana: Recit.: Quanto piu Melo - Aria: Sento il cor (Sosarme II, 7)

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for Handelians, August 4, 2004

By 

Mr Richard Fitzsimmons (Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel Arias for Cuzzoni, Durastanti, Senesino & Montagnana (Audio CD)

This bargain-priced box set is a must-have for anyone who loves Handel's operas. Whilst Nicholas McGegan has had his critics over some of his Goettingen recordings, it cannot be denied that he has rescued some of Handel's finest arias and operas from the dustbin of History. And here (87 arias later), he has a fine cast of singers all re-living the repertoire of some of the best singers of the 18th century - Lisa Saffer sings arias by Cuzzoni, Drew Minter arias by Senesino, David Thomas arias for Montagnana, and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson arias by Durastanti.

The excellent Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra provide superb accompaniment for each singer, and the sound quality is very good across all four discs. The whole comes with a very informative and exhaustive booklet containing introductory essays for each singer, as well as full libretti.

Highlights include Lisa Saffer's ravishing account of Falsa Imagine (Ottone) which Cuzzoni allegedly refused to sing as it was too plain - until Handel threatened to throw her out of the window..! Lorraine Hunt's re-enaction of Durastanti's Sesto role from Giulio Cesare sees a committed 'L'angue offenso mai riposa'. Drew Minter's coppery and languid countertenor gives delight in little-known arias from Riccardo Primo (Agitato da fiere tempeste) and Tolomeo (Stille Amare). Whilst David Thomas' cavernous bass voice ranges across opera and oratorio roles for Montagnana.

In all this is a superb collection that illustrates what a genius Handel was at characterisation and word-painting. No Handel lover will want to miss it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do not miss it!, December 19, 2004

By 

Smith "Solta" (Hungary) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel Arias for Cuzzoni, Durastanti, Senesino & Montagnana (Audio CD)

As some really interesting McGegan recordings silently disappear, buy it NOW, without hesitation.

The concept is lavish. We see how Handel's pen was controlled by the artists' personality. David Thomas, e.g., flies down to the abyss opened by Handel's music to the possibly plutonian Montagnana -nobody, never could sing it better, "fly deeper". The ladies are lecherously "aviatic" to the opposite direction. Those who miss it miss a universe.