Customer Reviews

Handel - Giove in Argo (Jupiter in Argos)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This is an interesting addition to the Handel catalogue, a newly reconstructed version of a pasticcio that survives only in part. The work of course recycles music from other (and often rather obscure, like Berenice) Handel operas but interestingly incorporates some departures from the opera seria norm in the inclusion of several choruses - probably, as the notes indicate, an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the English oratorios. The notes also go briefly discuss the surviving text, the need to make editorial choices from other operas when the evidence is conjectural, and the composition of new recitatives for Acts II and III since the originals are lost.

The music also includes authentic ariosos that Handel newly composed for this work and poses interesting questions about how Handelian opera would have evolved if the London public had been more appreciative. Despite incorporating earlier material, Handel's work is leading in new directions.

Frankly, I'm not familiar with the performers but they do justice to the music. The SACD sound is very good indeed. I do not place this on the list of essentials - the dramatic masterpieces like Ariodante, Alcina, Guilio Cesare, and Rodelinda, for example, but for those already acquainted with the "canon" this makes for an interesting exploration.

If you are interested, buy it while it is available as these cottage labels can be difficult to obtain.

Händels opera pasticco Giove in Argo was played for the first time in London on May 1st.1739 The Italien Antonio Maria Luccine wrote the libretto. Händel uses music of his early works, original compositions and two arias of the Italian composer Francesco Araja prepared especially for the opera in his Pasticco. No great success was the two performances oft the King's Theatre Haymarket since the morally ambiguous action didn't arrive so properly at the highly moral London Puplicum. The opera was listed in Wagner city of Bayreuth/Germany on Septemer 15th. 2006. The opera, it is God thanked,
is disk with uns now when compact. Ihe opera was very carefully reconstructed and completd in parts. Some unusual features have to be mentioned here. The use of Countertenors was completely renounced 3 soparnos, a tenor, a bass and a baritone, enter into action. Concert Royal Köln and the chamber choir Würzburg were conductet by Sylvie Kraus, Karla Schröter and Matthias Beckert. With the extensive and very splendid choir arcades the master wanted to tie of the first great successes of his oratorios. In my opinion all artists masters theier homework wiht bravado. The CD-Productio is a true jewel and shouldn't missing in any music collection. Uwe from Herford in Westphalia/Germany

Feast or famine ? Handel lovers have gone their lifetime without a recording of this pasticcio, but if Alan Curtis' live performance in Germany last spring gets released in the next few months, there will be two within a year. I agree with the two previous reviewers regarding the merits of this recording, and I also was not familiar with any of these soloists nor the conductor, Matthias Beckert. But everyone involved sounds exceptional and its a nice addition to your Handel collections even if you have recordings of the operas that have selections in this CD. Those operas are: Scipione, Alcina, Teseo, Faramondo, Berenice, Arminio, Ezio, Il Pastor Fido, Imeneo, as well as Acis & Galatea. Recommended for fans of baroque opera.