Handel - Alcina / Harteros, Kasarova, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Bolton (Bayerische Staatsoer)
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Music CD Cover
Composer: George Frideric HandelConductor: Ivor Bolton
Orchestra: Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Performer: Anja Harteros
Performer: Vesselina Kasarova
Performer: Sonia Prina
Performer: Veronica Cangemi
Performer: John Mark Ainsley
Performer: Christopher Purves
Performer: Axel Wolf
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import, Live, SACD
CD Release Date: 2007-10-09
Music Label: Farao Records
Free Music Notes for Handel - Alcina / Harteros, Kasarova, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Bolton (Bayerische Staatsoer)
Free Music Review: Rating strictly on its musical and recording quality
Hit: 5 Stars
If there were separate ratings for the packaging and stage noise, they would get two stars and one star respectively. As mentioned by a previous reviewer, there is quite a bit of stage noise in this live recording that contributes absolutely nothing to the enjoyment of the music. In fact, when I buy an acoustic-only recording of a musical work, the only thing I want to hear is the music. Stage noise is a total negative for me that detracts from the enjoyment of the music, which in this particular work is absolutely wonderful, one of my favorite Handel works (I love it so much this is my fourth recording of Alcina -- stemming back to the '60's Sutherland recording). The first time I listened to this recording I was greatly distracted and annoyed by the stage noise. But I guess my brain is getting used to its less jarring instances, because on subsequent hearings I seem to be tuning out more of it and I can enjoy that truly superb singing and orchestral work. Unlike another reviewer, I have absolutely no reservations on the excitement of the conducting. This is terrific, exciting orchestral playing, fully the match of the world-class singing. But still, sometimes the stage noise is really jarring and interfers with one's total immersion in the music. Suddenly right in the middle of a thrilling part of an aria there will be a loud bang that almost knocks me out of my seat.
Then there's the cheap packaging. There is no way this packaging deserves the slightest amount of praise. The photographs on the paper slip jackets are ordinary, if you ask me, hardly what I would call extremely beautiful, and certainly no excuse for packaging the disks in cardboard. I HATE this practice! They are tightly bound into the jacks and you can't just open them a little and have them fall out with gravity. You have to reach inside and grab the disks on both sides, putting your finger prints on them and pull them out with a good yank. Give me jewel cases every time! That design has not been improved in 25 years, thank you. One star for the wretched packaging.
Then there's the extremely high price for this album. The quality of the recording and performance is certainly worth the price. But the stage noise and the packaging make the price ludicrously high. Fortunately, I was able to shop around and get about a 25% discount, unlike Amazon's surprising full price.
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