Handel - Alcina / Auger, Jones, Kuhlmann, Tomlinson, City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Hickox

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Richard Hickox (Conductor), City of London Baroque Sinfonia (Orchestra), Arleen Auger (Performer), Eiddwen Harrhy (Performer), Della Jones (Performer), Kathleen Kuhlmann (Performer), Patrizia Kwella (Performer), Maldwyn Davies (Performer), John Tomlinson (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Arleen Auger, Eiddwen Harrhy, Della Jones, Kathleen Kuhlmann, Patrizia Kwella, et al.
• Orchestra: City of London Baroque Sinfonia
• Conductor: Richard Hickox
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (August 29, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000GG4T2S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,740 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

HICKOX RICHARD / CITY OF LONDON BAROQUE HANDEL: ALCINA

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Recording - The Alcina to Own, December 3, 2007

By 

Virginia Opera Fan (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel - Alcina / Auger, Jones, Kuhlmann, Tomlinson, City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Hickox (Audio CD)

I have owned this recording since it's original release on EMI CDS 749771-2. It is the version of Alcina to own for two reasons: the superlative Alcina of the late Arleen Auger and the complete text employed in the recording. I give the set further marks over the competing Christie (Erato) which I also own in the excellence of the conducting and the quality of the vocal ornamentation. The latter avoids the unstylish extravagance Christie allows his star singers.

Arleen Auger's Alcina is one of the finest Handel interpretations on disc. The singing is technically assured and her use of tone colors gives us a very nuanced portrait of Handel's vulnerable sorceress. Her competitors, Fleming and Sutherland, don't come close. The supporting case is excellent. Arguments can be made that Natalie Dessay and Susan Graham on Erato score points over Eidwenn Harrhy and Della Jones as vocalists, but Patrizia Kwella and Maldwyn Davies best their counterparts. Kathleen Kuhlmann competes against herself as the Bradamante of both sets. On balance, I prefer the EMI singers to those on Erato by a considerable margin.

Richard Hickox conducting does not offer the last word, but only Alan Curtis would likely give us a better conducted version of this, one of Handel's greatest scores. Hickox gives us Handel's complete 1735 text, including the ballet music. Deleted arias and alternate chorus versions are included as an appendix. I understand the reissue does not include the libretto (which can be downloaded from the EMI website) or the extensive essay annotations of the full priced issue.

I also have to mention Decca's circa 1960 Alcina. Despite cuts, re-assignments, and so-so conducting, it preserves the efforts of the likes of Teresa Berganza, Monica Sinclair, and the young Mirella Freni - not to mention the spectacular singing of Joan Sutherland. She may not be the most dramatic Alcina on record, but her singing of "Tornami a vagheggiar" (appropriated from her sister Morgana) is not to be missed.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid performance libretto available for download, October 2, 2006

By 

Marcolorenzo (Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel - Alcina / Auger, Jones, Kuhlmann, Tomlinson, City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Hickox (Audio CD)

Perfect performance on all levels. The libretto is available for download free of charge.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible musical experience, March 13, 2008

By 

FreddyB "FreddyB" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel - Alcina / Auger, Jones, Kuhlmann, Tomlinson, City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Hickox (Audio CD)

This opera is amazing. There is not a boring moment in the great Alcina masterpiece. It is absolutely my favorite of all operas, oratorios.
Wall-to-wall arias by wonderful singers. Moving performances by the
ladies and the fine tenor will really touch your heart. I got my copy from the public library which had no booklet so I had to download the tracklist from the EMI site to identify the singers I was hearing. Not an easy task, because the listings on Disc one did not exactly match the
actual tracks on my 1986 original version cd release. Discs two and three worked out better. Handel rarely disapoints but wonderfully out did himself on this amazing work. I'm going shopping today to find any Handel I'm missing from my shelf. I highly recommend this and intend to wear out all three of these magical discs.