George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Serse (Xerxes), HWV 40 (1738)
Serse - Paula Rasmussen (mezzo)
Arasmene - Ann Hallenberg (mezzo)
Amastre - Patricia Bardon (mezzo)
Romilda - Isabel Bayrakdarian (soprano)
Atalanta - Sandrine Piau (soprano)
Ariodate - Marcello Lippi (baritone)
Elviro - Matteo Peirone (bass)
Les Talens Lyriques/Christophe Rousset
Stage director: Michael Hampe
rec. 2-3 June 2000, Semperoper, Dresden.
Picture format 4:3; Sound format LPCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles
EN, DE, ES, FR, IT; Region Code 0 (Worldwide).
EUROARTS DVD 2053798 [156:00]
You may not be familiar with Handel’s opera Serse (Xerxes), but
you will certainly recognize its first aria. The oft-recorded Ombra mai
fu is a staple of recital albums and baroque best-ofs. Even though it’s
a brief piece - just around three minutes long - it sets the tone for the
rest of the work. In an interesting turnaround, most of the singers here are
women; in Handel’s time, the female roles were sung by men, but here
only two of the soloists are men (the baritone and bass). There are no counter-tenors
for a change, with women playing the men’s roles of Serse and Arasmene.
Serse is full of wonderful music, and it’s Paula Rasmussen, as Serse,
who shines in this performance. She stands out with both a wonderful voice,
and an attractive stage presence. During the performances filmed, she gets
applause several times after her numbers, showing that the audience in Dresden
fell under her charm as well. Sandrine Piau is also excellent with some wonderful
arias, and the rest of the cast is fine. The small orchestra - it looks to
be about twenty musicians at most - is admirable, providing a clean, crisp
sound.
The modernized staging is attractive, and is not a distraction, as is sometimes
the case. The camera-work was well-judged, alternating often between tight
shots and wider shots. The only negative about the production itself is the
fact that it was filmed in 4:3 rather than in wide-screen format. It dates
from 2000, when wide-screen filming was less common.
All in all, this is a fine two-and-a-half hours, with a wonderful cast led
by Paula Rasmussen. Lovers of Handel operas will find this to be a delightful
evening programme.
Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn writes about more than just music on his blog Kirkville
( www.mcelhearn.com )
A fine recording of a great Handel opera, with mezzo Paula Rasmussen stealing
the show.