 |
Handel: Radamisto
Music CD CoverComposer: George Frideric Handel Conductor: Alan Curtis Orchestra: Il Complesso Barocco Performer: Joyce DiDonato Performer: Patrizia Ciofi Performer: Maite Beaumont Performer: Dominique LaBelle Performer: Zachary Stains Performer: Laura Cherici Performer: Carlo Lepore Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2005-11-08 Music Label: Virgin Classics Soundtracks: Music CD 1- Ouverture - Il Complesso Barocco
- Cavatina: Sommi Dei - Patrizia Ciofi
- Recitativo: Reina, Infausto Avviso - Laura Cherici
- Aria: Deh, Fuggi Un Traditore - Laura Cherici
- Recitativo: Ecco L'infido Sposo - Patrizia Ciofi
- Aria: Tu Vuoi Ch'io Parta? - Patrizia Ciofi
- Recitativo: Il Crudel Odio Tuo - Carlo Lepore
- Aria: Stragi, Morti, Sangue Ed Armi - Zachary Stains
- Recitativo: Ove Seguir Mi Vuoi - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Cara Sposa, Amato Bene - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: Ver Le Nemiche Mura - Various Artists
- Aria: Son Contenta Di Morire - Maite Beaumont
- Recitativo: Seguila, O Figlio - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Ferite, Uccidete, O Numi Del Ciel - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: Fraarte, Omai Quel Ferro - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Son Lievi Le Catene - Carlo Lepore
- Recitativo: Coraggio, Amici; All'armi! - Dominique Labelle
- Sinfonia - Il Complesso Barocco
- Recitativo: Gia, Gia Vinto E Il Nemico - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Mirero Quel Vago Volto - Dominique Labelle
- Recitativo: Che Fo? - Laura Cherici
- Aria: Dopo Torbide Procelle - Patrizia Ciofi
- Marche - Il Complesso Barocco
- Rigaudon I/Rigaudon II - Il Complesso Barocco
- Air - Il Complesso Barocco
Music CD 2- Recitativo: Sposo, Vien Meno Il Pie - Joyce DiDonato
- Cavatina: Quando Mai, Spietata Sorte - Maite Beaumont
- Recitatavo: Oh Crudo Ciel! - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Ombra Cara Di Mia Sposa - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: Mitiga Il Grave Affanno - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Gia Che Morir Non Posso - Maite Beaumont
- Recitativo: Benche Al Campo Di Marte - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Vaga E Bella Ogn'or Vedrai - Dominique Labelle
- Recitativo: Eccomi A Te Davante - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Si, Che Ti Renderai - Zachary Stains
- Recitativo Nulla Piu Di Speranza - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Troppo Sofferse Gia Questo Mio Petto - Maite Beaumont
- Recitativo: Parte L'idolo Mio - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: Spero Placare - Dominique Labelle
- Recitativo: Questo Vago Giardin - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: La Sorte, Il Ciel, Amor - Laura Cherici
- Recitativo: Adorato German - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Vanne, Sorella Ingrata - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: Tra Il German, Tra Lo Sposo - Patrizia Ciofi
- Aria: Non Sara Quest'alma Mia - Patrizia Ciofi
- Recitativo: Due Seggi, Ola - Various Artists
- Cavantina: Empio, Perverso Cor! - Maite Beaumont
- Recitativo: Ascolta Ismen - Joyce DiDonato
- Duetto: Se Vive In Te Il Mio Cor - Joyce DiDonato
- Passacaille - Il Complesso Barocco
- Gigue - Il Complesso Barocco
Music CD 3- Recitativo: Stanco Di Piu Soffrir - Dominique Labelle
- Aria: S'adopri Il Braccio Armato - Dominique Labelle
- Recitativo: So Ben Che Nel Mio Amore - Laura Cherici
- Aria: Con Vana Speranza - Laura Cherici
- Recitativo: Non Temo, Idolo Mio - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Dolce Bene Di Quest'alma - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: O Della Tracia, O Dell' Armenia - Various Artists
- Aria: Barbaro, Partiro - Patrizia Ciofi
- Recitativo: Farasmane La Segua - Various Artists
- Aria: Alzo Al Volo Di Mia Fama - Zachary Stains
- Recitativo: Di Radamisto Il Capo? - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Deggio Dunque, Oh Dio, Lasciarti - Maite Beaumont
- Recitativo: Oh Dio, Parte Zenobia - Joyce DiDonato
- Aria: Qual Nave Smarrita - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: In Questo Tempio - Various Artists
- Duetto: Non Ho Piu Affanni - Joyce DiDonato
- Recitativo: Ognun Goda E Festeggi - Joyce DiDonato
- Coro: Un Di Piu Felice - Various Artists
- Passepied/Rigaudon/Passpied - Il Complesso Barocco
Free Music Notes for Handel: RadamistoFree Music Review: A Serious Happy Ending Hit: 5 Stars
Radamisto was among Handel's first efforts specifically to cultivate an English audience for Italian "opera seria". It was first performed in London in 1720, with at least some backing from the King, who may well have previewed the score. It's based on a libretto, already set by various composers in Italy, which was in turn based on a theatrical adaptation of a French play. Whoever adapted the story for Handel's purposes had a bit more literary sense than many of the "dear Saxon's" later librettists; the 'action' is well and clearly developed in the extended dramatic recitativos, allowing the da capo arias full freedom to be emotionally expressive without slowing down the exposition.
The story is, in fact, a trifle involuted. Radamisto and Zenobia are faithful lovers. Radamisto's sister, Polissena, is married to Tiridate, the King of Armenia, to whom she is faithful, but Tiridate is obsessed with passion for Zenobia. To make things stickier, Tiridate's brother Fraarte is also in love with Zenobia, while Tiridates' chief general Tigrane is in love with Polissena. Don't fret too much about the details; as I said, the tale becomes clear as the opera is sung. On the whole, this is one of the more tightly-plotted of Handel's operas. Apparently it was clear enough to be successful in London in 1720; it was met with loud applause, performed often, and revived in later years.
It's the two wives who emerge as heroically faithful and courageous, while the men are an unsteady lot. One could interpret the drama coherently by taking it as a parable of the restoration of the tyrant Tiridate's virtue and sanity through the example of fearless devotion set by the other characters.
But hey, it's opera, and it's all about the singing. Two mezzo-sopranos - Joyce DiDonato and Maite Beaumont - have the choicest roles as Radamisto and Zenobia, and they bring emotive gravity to their arias of desperation and devotion. The smaller roles of Polissena, Fraarte and Tigrane are all sung by flexible sopranos - Patrizia Ciofi, Dominique Labelle, and Laura Cherici. The tyrant Tiridate is sung by tenor Zachary Stains. (Isn't it nice to have the villain be a tenor for a change? We basses get that chore altogether too often!)
Basso Carlo Lepore sings the last role, as Farasmane, the father of Radamisto and Polissena. This is as fine a cast as I can imagine, all adept at the 'historically informed' vocal gymnastics required for Baroque opera.
It's almost a given that Il Complesso Barocco, under the baton of Alan Curtis, will perform flawlessly, and they do. This was probably the first opera ever staged in London to use an orchestra including trumpet and horns, as well as virtuosic oboes, along with the full complement of strings and continuo instruments. Il Complesso performs, with gusto and precision, this richly colorful score. Each act, by the way, concludes with a brief instrumental ballet -- a gesture perhaps to 18th C taste.
Radamisto is a very full-bodied opera, with arias expressing every emotion appropriate to the anxiety of the lovers: defiance, desperation, devotion; adoration, detestation, repentance, relief, and joy. There are simply no 'routine' moments of music in it. I'll venture to say it's one of Handel's masterworks.
The good news is that it's now available in the Virgin Classics bargain box of recordings by Il Complesso Barocco. The six operas in the box are:
RODRIGO - 2 CDs recorded in 1999, with Gloria Banditelli, Sandrine Piau, Roberta Invernizzi
RADAMISTO - 3 CDs 2005, with Zachary Stains, Dominique Labelle, Joyce DiDonato
ADMETO - 3 CDs 1978, with René Jacobs, James Bowman, Max von Egmond
FERNANDO - 2 CDs 2007, with Lawrence Zazzo, Max Cencic, Antonio Abete
ARMINIO - 2 CDs 2001, with Vivica Genoux, Dominique Labelle, Riccardo Ristori
DEIDAMIA - 3 CDs 2003, with Simone Kermes, Anna Bonitatibus, Furio Zanassi
|
 |
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; BookBest price: $2.74Price in other shops: $6.99
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; BookBest price: $13.40Price in other shops: $13.98
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CDBest price: $25.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; BookBest price: $35.99
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS VideoBest price: $5.87Price in other shops: $9.99
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS VideoBest price: $29.94Price in other shops: $29.95
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS VideoBest price: $24.99Price in other shops: $29.95
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; BookBest price: $23.62Price in other shops: $25.95
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS VideoPrice in other shops: $29.95
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS VideoBest price: $12.95Price in other shops: $29.95
|
Handel: Alessandro (The Sony Opera House)Release date: 2011-05-03; Music CDBest price: $11.66Price in other shops: $21.98
Verdi Opera ScenesRelease date: 2011-02-22; Music CDBest price: $10.68Price in other shops: $14.99
Philippe Jaroussky - Carestini (The Story of a Castrato)JAROUSSKY,PHILIPPE; Release date: 2007-11-20; Music CDBest price: $8.15Price in other shops: $16.98
Passing ByRelease date: 2010-09-14; Music CDBest price: $9.94Price in other shops: $16.98
Handel: Un'Opera ImmaginariaRelease date: 2009-05-19; Music CDBest price: $6.55Price in other shops: $11.98
Resurrection--Complete OperaRelease date: 2002-02-26; Music CDBest price: $28.78Price in other shops: $36.98
Handel: ImeneoRelease date: 2004-02-17; Music CDBest price: $9.25Price in other shops: $33.99
Handel - Rodelinda / Kermes, Mijanovic, Davislim, Lemieux, Il Complesso Barocco, CurtisRelease date: 2005-06-14; Music CDBest price: $26.21Price in other shops: $50.98
Handel - Floridante / Mijanovic, DiDonato, Invernizzi, Rostorf-Zmir, Priante, Novaro, Il Complesso Barocco, CurtisRelease date: 2007-04-10; Music CDBest price: $20.36Price in other shops: $33.98
Handel: AlcinaRelease date: 2009-04-14; Music CDBest price: $22.20Price in other shops: $35.98
|