Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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

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.

Aside from Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar), this is the Handel Opera to buy if you haven't warmed up to Handel operas. And if you haven't yet had the joy of discovering Handel Operas at all, this may be an even better bet than Julius Caesar. The story of Alcina is fascinating and fantastic, and the music uniformly exciting, particularly on repeated hearings. But the greatest thing about this particular recording is the cast, which is uniformly superb -- particularly Auger in the title role. It didn't take me long to get addicted to her incredible arias, and her unbelievably spot-on performances thereof. I give this opera recording my highest possible recommendation.

Handel - Alcina / Auger, Jones, Kuhlmann, Tomlinson, City of London Baroque Sinfonia, Hickox is a recording under the direction of Richard Hickox who leads the City of London Sinfonia on this EMI Records Ltd release from 1986. The booklet contains 90 pages. Anthony Hicks essay "Alcina, An Introduction" is well-written and informative. The second essay written by Jonathan Keates entitled "Handel, Alcina and London" is also very interesting and well-written. "Recording Alcina" which is written by Frank Granville Barker gives an insight into the recording. Harriet Mason has written the synopsis. The lyrics are available in Italian and English. Highly recommended. 5/5.