Handel - Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno / York, Bertagnolli, Mingardo, Sears, Concerto Italiano, Alessandrini

George Frideric Handel (Artist), Rinaldo Alessandrini (Artist), Deborah York (Artist), Sara Mingardo (Artist), Gemma Bertagnolli (Artist), Concerto Italiano (Artist), Nicholas Sears (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Opus 111
• ASIN: B00004ZBLE
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #428,460 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno was the first of Handel's many oratorios. It was also the last, for half a century later he rewrote it with an English translation as The Triumph of Time and Truth. In between, he penned another rewrite with a chorus, and borrowed extensively from Il Trionfo for works that have become better known to listeners. In this absolutely sensational performance, the 22-year-old composer's initial offering sounds smashing. The text contains one of the debates about beauty, time, pleasure, and truth so ubiquitous among Baroque vocal texts, and the music peerlessly demonstrates the vivid imagination and skills of the young Handel. Rinaldo Alessandrini and his excellent ensemble bring us a swift-paced performance that never flags. The conductor also plays the organ continuo in a sonata that's said to be the first organ concerto ever written. Unlike all too many recordings of Baroque oratorios, the singing is outstanding. The solo quartet is led by Deborah York, whose bright soprano shines in coloratura passages. Gemma Bertagnolli's warmer soprano offers nice contrast and alto Sara Mingardo is marvelous, while tenor Nicholas Sears offers outstanding lyric singing. This is simply one of the best Handel oratorio recordings extant; it's not to be missed. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous recording, May 25, 2001

By	J. Luis Juarez Echenique "pepechenique" (Mexico City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Rinaldo Alessandrini was wise to choose this early (but fully mature) oratorio for his first Handel recording. The only other worthwhile recording with Minkowski in ERATO is now superseded in every department. Alessandrini has a superior orchestra in his fabulous Concerto Italiano who play Handel as if to the manner born. His soloists couldn't possibly be bettered: soprano Deborah York covers herself with glory in her great arias, and Gemma Bertagnolli is not too far behind. Sara Mingardo is the finest Italian mezzo since Bartoli switched to soprano and the sweet voiced tenor is a delight too. All in all, it would be VERY difficult for a better recording of Il Trionfo to come by. If you don't know this beautiful oratorio you are missing an important masterpiece.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little-known but absolutely superb early Handel oratorio, June 28, 2004

By	Bruce Bogin (rural France) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Somewhere I ran across a reference to this work and I bought it for one reason---Sara Mingardo. (See my review to Vivaldi's Farnace.) Additionally there is also Gemma Bertagnolli, Deborah York, Nicholas Sears and Concerto Italiano directed by Rinaldo Alessandrini. In other words a fabulous all-star cast. This is not great Handel Triumphalism that one gets in his grand oratorios and operas like Semele, Radimisto and the like. It is beautiful music, beautifully presented. Take my advice. Buy anything in which Sara Mingardo or Gemma Bertagnolli sings or hopefully both of them such as Vivaldi's La Verità in Cimento. Buy anything directed by Rinaldo Alessandrini such as Vivaldi's L'Olimpiade and his Vespri per L'Assunzione di Maria Vergine. And let us thank Opus 111 for making this work available to us.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best performance of a Handel's vocal works, January 10, 2005

By	finem lauda - See all my reviews

In common parlance, giving 5 stars to this amazing achievement of Concerto Italiano is a "no brainer." Go ahead, try to find for me a Handel vocal work performed more engagingly and so beautiful to listen to. One lovely aria performed flawlessly after another.

If I could only have one vocal Handel recording this would be it. It's no wonder that so many of these arias are slightly re-worked and find their place in Handel's future operas.

Here, you get them all and performed expertly by the singers and orchestra. The two working well together at all times.

Bravo, Mr. Alessandrini, encore!