HANDEL: Opera Arias and Overtures -2.
Emma Kirkby, The Brandenburg Consort Roy Goodman.
Hyperion CDA67128 71m DDD.

Emma Kirkby follows on her immensely satisfying Handel disc with another that contains a fair measure of surprises and delights in equal measure. The overtures to 'Lotario', 'Atalanta' and 'Deidamia' are played with verve and élan by the Brandenburg Consort under Roy Goodman. who manages to find the right amount of humour and joie de vivre in these admittedly trivial items. The vocal items are by far the most interesting with a beautiful 'Chi t'intende?' from Berenice and a very dramatic 'Son qual stanco', an important excerpt from 'Arianna in Creta'. I'm not always so comfortable with Handel's operatic medium, at times the works strike me as slightly boorish and too long but when one dips with relaxation into such treasures the opposite effect is to be had. Kirkby's voice is unparalleled in this repertoire as she demonstrates continuously here. There are pieces from several rare operas including 'Ezio' and 'Partenope'; these are both scores which should be recorded in their entirety. The notes and recording are up to Hyperion's usual high standards.

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

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