Handel: Mezzo-Soprano Opera Arias [Enhanced]

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Diego Fasolis (Conductor), I Barocchisti (Orchestra), Max Emanuel Cencic (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Max Emanuel Cencic
• Orchestra: I Barocchisti
• Conductor: Diego Fasolis
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (April 6, 2010)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Virgin Classics
• ASIN: B0034YLX4G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,127 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

After his foray into the early Romantic era -- heroic arias written for female mezzo sopranos to perform in male disguise -- Max Emmanuel Cencic returns to core countertenor repertoire with this program of Handel. It comprises arias taken from a variety of operas and other vocal works and includes t wo of the composer's operatic `greatest hits', the dynamic `Dopo notte' from Ariodante and the poignant `Cara speme' from Giulio Cesare. W hen Cencic performed the role of Sesto in Giulio Cesare on stage in Toulouse in 2006, ResMusica described him as a "true phenomenon". Handel retains a prominent position in Cencic's performance schedule. Among operas by the composer that he has performed are Giulio Cesare, Tamerlano, Fernando, Serse, Ottone and Faramondo -- his complete Virgin Classics recording of this work was designated a Diapason `Découverte' in March 2009, also being selected for Gramophone's Editor's Choice in July 2009. The Daily Telegraph wrote of the recording that: "The cast is notable for the flamboyant contributions of the impressive young countertenors Max Emanuel Cencic (in the title role) and Philippe Jaroussky. Strongly recommended to diehard Handel fans."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supreme Handel from the Amazing Cencic!, December 30, 2010

By 

M. Hall (OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Mezzo-Soprano Opera Arias (Audio CD)

This recording of Handel arias by Max Emanuel Cencic is, perhaps, the finest countertenor recital of the composer's work. The Countertenor + Handel recording is a tried and true formula, and on occasion it becomes a bit tired; however, Cencic's voice is so unique that any qualms about "sameness" are squashed. Let me say that, while the vocal technique is nothing less than amazing, it is the ambiguous gender of the voice that I find to be most interesting. There is something about Cencic's voice that reminiscent of both genders, and at times, one may have trouble recognizing which - male or female - Cencic actually is. This may not appeal to all countertenor fans, but I find it much preferable to the bizarre, hooty sounds that some falsettists make. The voice is obviously male, but there is a certain "metal" to it that one may normally associate with mezzo-sopranos. Ultimately, there is the lung capacity of a male and the true mezzo sound of a woman combined into one, and it truly leads to an extraordinary result.

When listening to Cencic, I can't help but think that there is something to being a child star. Cencic is only in his early 30's, but he's been in the classical music business for more than 20 years, and the experience is telling. Not only does his audience have the benefit of a aurally exciting performance, Cencic provides a depth of knowledge and thought that one would not find in other performers of the same age who do not have the extensive experience under their belts. To that end, I have a hard time deciding which type of aria on this disc is my favorite: bravura aria or slow aria.

"Benche mi sprezzi" from Tamerlano and "Verdi allori" from Orlando are my favorite slow arias. During the length of them, Cencic sings with wonderful breath support, clear line, excellent diction, dramatic truth, and expressive warmth. However, the true test of a Handel recital is the dramatic outbursts of the bravura, coloratura pieces. Some countertenors have difficulty sustaining a clean line and a pleasant sound when singing high, rapid, or difficult coloratura pieces; David Daniels, for example, has a an exquisite tone (perfect for the "simpler" music of Sesto), but gets through the coloratura pieces of Giulio Cesare in a way that makes one long for Jennifer Larmore. Of course, that's just my opinion, and it may not hold true for all, but I certainly don't feel the same way about Cencic's performance in the bravura arias. The aria from Imeneo that opens the album is equally masterful to the rendition performed by Joyce DiDonato on her "Furore" album. Other arias like "Qual Leon" from Arianna in Creta illustrate that Cencic if perfectly comfortable with speedy, complicated coloratura pieces.

The conducting of I Barocchisti by Diego Fasolis is to be commended. He commands crisp, clear playing from the orchestra that allows Cencic to shine but never allows the drama to slip and slide. The tracks with choral participation are aided splendidly by the "Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizerra."

A supreme Handel recital. Highly recommended.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauiful!, April 15, 2010

By 

Zachary Rogg-Meltzer (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Mezzo-Soprano Opera Arias (Audio CD)

These Mezzo-Soprano opera arias performed by Max Emanuel Cencic sound better than I have ever heard them sound. His voice is perfectly suited to this music, almost like he was born to sing it. 12 tracks including Arianna in Creta (track number 3) is absolutely beautiful, and I have listened to it ten times in the last few days. This whole CD maintains a very sensitive feel to it, and would appeal to the romantic type. I recommend this to anyone who likes their favorite artists to connect to their music. You certainly feel that here.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We are fortunate to be living now..., April 7, 2010

By 

Julian Kerrell-Vaughan (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Mezzo-Soprano Opera Arias (Audio CD)

We have, for so long, looked back with an admixture of unrequited longing and a sharp sense of regret to the age when the male castrato ruled the seventeenth and eighteenth-century operatic stage. Those two words, 'if only...' (perhaps two of the saddest in the English language) may now be laid aside. We are indeed incredibly fortunate in living at a time when we have talents such as Max-Emanuel Cencic to bring a triumphant renaissance to that music once again!
Cencic, like Andreas Scholl and very, very few others, has magnificent beauty and tone throughout his very wide range. There is none of the sibilance and nasal quality that one finds in the leading French exponent of the genre. Here is a very real beauty that stirs the soul.
Added to a phenomenal technique and that fundamental splendour, Cencic, unlike Scholl, it would appear, is capable of the most perilous pyrotechnics, throwing out great handfuls of running demi-semi-quavers with perfect precision and without losing that beauty of tone. In other words he is never obliged to sacrifice beauty to agility.
Returning to the great names of the past - Senesino, Cafarelli and of course Farinelli - one is tempted to posit the question, "Could they...did they...indeed sing better than this?"