Handel: Oreste

Georg Friedrich Handel (Composer), George Petrou (Conductor), Mary-Ellen Nesi (Performer), Maria Mitsopoulou (Performer), Mata Katsuli (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Mary-Ellen Nesi, Maria Mitsopoulou, Mata Katsuli
• Conductor: George Petrou
• Composer: Georg Friedrich Handel
• Audio CD (November 23, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: MD&G Records
• ASIN: B0002TTX2A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,915 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Ouverture - Camerata Stuttgart

2. Act I: Aria - Pensieri, Voi Mi Tormente - Mary-Ellen Nesi

3. Act I: Recitativo Ed Accompagnato - O Tu Del Gran Toante/Ma Tu Non M'odi Ancora? - Mary-Ellen Nesi

4. Act I: Aria - Bella Calma - Mata Katsuli

5. Act I: Recitativo - Sul Tiranno Toante - Mary-Ellen Nesi

6. Act I: Aria - Agitato Da Fiere Tempeste - Mary-Ellen Nesi

7. Act I: Recitativo - D'Argo E Costui? - Mata Katsuli

8. Act I: Aria - Dirti Vorrei - Mata Katsuli

9. Act I: Recitativo - Udisti, Filotete? - Nicholas Spanos

10. Act I: Aria - Orgogliosetto Va L'augelletto - Nicholas Spanos

See all 34 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act II (II): Recitativo - Grazie Alli Sommi Dei - Mary-Ellen Nesi

2. Act II (II): Aria - Dopo L'orrore - Mary-Ellen Nesi

3. Act II (II): Recitativo - O Mio Diletto Sposo - Mary-Ellen Nesi

4. Act II (II): Aria Vola L'augello - Maria Mitsopoulou

5. Act II (II): Recitativo - Tanto Ardir/Ermione! Sposo! Oh Dei - Mary-Ellen Nesi

6. Act II (II): Duetto - Ah, Mia Cara - Mary-Ellen Nesi

7. Act II (II): Balli: Prelude - Camerata Stuttgart

8. Act II (II): Balli: Air - Camerata Stuttgart

9. Act II (II): Balli: Ballo - Camerata Stuttgart

10. Act III: Sinfonia - Camerata Stuttgart

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classy new recording: style meets substance, January 9, 2005

By 

A classical musician "A classical musician" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Oreste (Audio CD)

Finally, a recording which marries thoughtfully considered knowledge of Baroque style with glorious, golden-toned musical spontaneity. An elegant, tasteful presentation. Mary Ellen Nesi has a gorgeous, naturally full-bodied voice which can be contemplative, then suddenly fly up to effortless and thrilling high notes with perfect intonation. Conductor George Petrou is a perfect match for his orchestra, collaborating to explore the intricacies of Baroque style, finding a fine balance between interpretive extremes. As the narrative of Orestes unfolds, one feels the commitment of these artists to this tale from their homeland of Greece. Continuo accompaniments are fascinating and stylistically appropriate. The string section is clear, pure, yet resonant. I've become jaded about Handel recordings but this one I will play often for friends and family. It also makes for glorious background music!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never heard of them? You should., January 10, 2005

By 

And You May Find Yourself (Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Oreste (Audio CD)

I first heard this opera with some of the same singers, same conductor and different orchestra, at the new festival at Ancient Corinth. Despite some misgivings, I greatly enjoyed the performance, especially as the surroundings were magical - the Temple of Octavia in the archeological site was used as the 'set'- and the audience (of local people, not tourists), though unaccustomed to classical music, was very attentive.

I wondered whether I would enjoy it quite so much on CD - after all, there's no 'ambience' to make up for any faults. But my doubts dissolved at first hearing. All the singers, especially the female voices, are excellent (the Oreste and Ifigeneia especially); the orchestra and harpsichord are very good indeed. And though the opera itself may be a pasticcio, it's truly a beautiful one which stands perfectly well on its own.

This recording is a must for Baroque fans, if only to show that you don't need famous names to achieve a wonderful recording - just in-depth knowledge, spades of talent, and a true love of art.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredibly spirited recording of a superb Handel pasticcio, December 14, 2009

By 

Baroque and opera freak "Barry" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Oreste (Audio CD)

For those of use who love Handel's operas, there is absolutely no reason to look down on a "pasticcio", or a work put together carefully out of music that the composer has already written for other works. Handel pasticcios can be as good as his original operas. And when one puts together a group of (mostly Greek) singers and musicians as good as the group assembled for this beautiful recording, one finds oneself in the face of another masterpiece of Handel's opera oeuvre. Because of the distinctive personalities of the soloists and the conductor, this recording is quite a different experience from the great Alan Curtis recordings (not to mention Diego Fasolis) that have been enriching the Handel repertoire jrecently. The fact is, because every one of Handel's operas has a distinctive feel and style, we are never bored on hearing new works, and the more we hear of them the more we enjoy the other great works that may come our way, dropping from the sky like mana from Heaven for those of us whose spiritual life is sustained by that mana. If Petrou's Camerata Stuttgart recordings of the Greek-themes operas can re-open to us more of Handel's great oeuvre, delighting us and refining our spirits at the end of a hard working day, then more power to them. This is a delightful recording, technically as well as in the quality of the musicians and soloists, and Handel lovers will certainly want to include it their collections -- without fail.