Customer Reviews

Handel: Arias (Deluxe Limited Edition)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD is up to the high standard found in Rolando Villazon's other presentations. Handel's baroque arias are new to me and I enjoyed listening to a great tenor venturing into a new area. Having such an experienced and accomplished orchestra working together with Rolando makes for a great musical achievement. The DVD also added colour and enjoyment. Trish

Good CD, bad DVD. DVD is a joke - has only 3 arias out of 14. The rest is just one interview broken into small segments, very annoying. If you want to buy this edition to have the DVD of his performance - do not waist your money.

Myth #1 = Baroque orchestras tend to focus on technical excellence rather than musical expression.

Myth #2 = Baroque vocal music conveys less passion than its Romantic counterpart.

Myth #3 = A Lyric Tenor cannot successfully sing Baroque music.

My collection includes Rolando Villazón's two other critically acclaimed Baroque recordings - both ensemble pieces, namely Monteverdi's "Combattimento di Tancredi", and Vivaldi's "Ercole sul Termodonte". So I was eager to hear this solo Handel album by an artist whose endeavours, however surprising, are always undertaken with musical intelligence, commitment and integrity.

I was immediately struck by the sparkling artistry of the Gabrieli Players, under the expert baton of Paul McCreesh (Myth #1 busted). Their animation just radiates and it is evident that this is their heartland territory. Secondly, Rolando Villazón's superb interpretation of this music dispels forever the notion that singing Baroque means hiding one's emotions under a flood of ornamented vocal acrobatics! (Myth #2 busted). Just as with his Romantic repertoire, you can feel his heart in his voice - whether the aria in question is a torrential outpouring, or a quiet soliloquy. I also enjoyed hearing new facets in his voice - as if a familiar gemstone was catching and reflecting a fresh ray of light.

In Ariodante's "Scherza, Infida" for example, he conveys his heartbreak as touchingly as any Rodolfo or Alfredo - while remaining true to the style required for music of this genre. And Bajazet's death scene from "Tammerlano" is absolutely arresting in its impact! Then there is his beautifully introspective rendition of "Pastorello D'Un Povero Armento" from "Rodelinda" - where the king, with all his luxury, power and wealth, yearns for the peaceful and untroubled sleep of the shepherd boy. And the beloved "Ombra Mai Fu" from "Serse" is simply delicious!

In interview on the bonus DVD (supplied with the Deluxe edition), Rolando Villazón talks of being driven to achieve excellence under the guidance of Paul McCreesh, while Mr McCreesh speaks of Mr Villazón's finely tuned vocal instrument, lack of vanity and absolute commitment to the music. This is obviously a partnership strengthened by mutual respect - and the fine result is obvious in the finished product.

So - that leaves only Myth #3. Can a Lyric Tenor successfully sing Handel? Assuredly YES ... especially if he is Rolando Villazón!

This album is not the last word on elegant Handel singing and I wouldn't even say that it is "essential listening" for die-hard Baroque or Villazon fans, but it does give a new and interesting dimension to his art and (possible) direction to his career. The assured vocalism he delivers here is certainly on a par with Wunderlich's wonderful recordings of this music and, in the case of both of these great tenors, I suspect Handel himself would choose expressive utterance over elegant (but boring) singing - not that the two qualities must be mutually exclusive, and not that Villazon is sloppy. No, he actually acquits himself rather well even when the notes come fast and thick (which, this being Handel, they often do). The coloratura is fluent - if occasionally labored - and he manages a credible trill. I think, typically speaking, audiences respond to Villazon's great energy and commitment to whatever he's performing - that is his great gift and it is available in abundance on this release. Though this album does not show the same level of varied vocal niceties as previous recorded efforts (in terms of dynamic shading and text-based nuances), it is a good addition to Villazon's recorded output. There have been some detractors who complain about his having transposed some arias from higher keys but that tradition is one that Handel endorsed and practiced so I do not consider it to be a legitimate demerit when discussing this album. I bought the "deluxe" edition and if I had it to do over again, I would purchase the regular (single disc) version as the bonus DVD included in the aforementioned deluxe version is actually very short (less than 30 minutes) and not particularly well-produced. Basically, it seems that it was done as an afterthought. Furthermore, the mini-concert shows Villazon in less than top form and so the recorded versions are more than adequate. Anyway, now that Villazon's gone Baroque, I would love to hear him go Classical - why not an album of Mozart's arias for tenor? Mozart is so often treated as sacred with pallid and overly-reverent performances; Villazon is just such a performer who could turn that tradition on its ear.

He has such a good voice for this work. What a surprise considering I thought I knew this voice.