Philippe Jaroussky- Handel Opera Arias (CD)

This album, which focuses on arias from Handel’s more rarely-performed operas, is the first that Philippe Jaroussky has devoted entirely to the composer – though his Erato discography already includes complete recordings of Faramondo, Partenope and, on DVD, Alcina, and arias by Handel feature on the countertenor’s Carestini: A Castrato’s Story. Praising Jaroussky in Handel, the New York Times has described him as “incomparable… thrilling of voice.” Now, for the first time, Jaroussky brings his impeccable Handelian credentials to an entire album devoted to arias by the composer, who produced thirty-five operas for the London stage between 1711 and 1741. For all Handel’s current popularity, comparatively few of his operas are performed with great regularity. Works such as Giulio Cesare, Alcina, Ariodante, Agrippina, Serse, Rodelinda, Rinaldo, Partenope, Orlando, and Tamerlano have achieved varying degrees of currency, but, apart from an aria from Rodelinda, Jaroussky’s new album puts the emphasis on operas we are less likely to hear in the theatre or concert hall: Amadigi di Gaula; Arianna in Creta; Flavio, re di Longobardi; Giustino; Imeneo; Radamisto (represented by no fewer than four arias); Riccardo primo, re d’Inghilterra; Siroe, re di Persia and Tolomeo, re di Egitto. A number of these operas were written for the famous castrato Senesino, who created many leading roles for Handel.

Tracklist:

1. Imeneo, HWV 41, Act 1: “Se Potessero I Sospir’ Miei” (Tirinto)
2. Riccardo I, R D’inghilterra, HWV 23, Act 1: “Agitato Da Fiere Tempeste” (Riccardo)
3. Siroe, Re Di Persia, HWV 24, Act 3: “Son Stanco, Ingiusti Numi… ” (Siroe)
4. Siroe, Re Di Persia, HWV 24, Act 3: “Deggio Morire, O Stelle” (Siroe)
5. Serse, HWV 40, Act 2: “SI, la Voglio E L’otterr” (Arsamene)
6. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 2: “Ombra Cara” (Radamisto)
7. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 3: “Vieni, D’empiet Mostro Crudele… ” (Radamisto)
8. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 3: “Vile, Se Mi Dai Vita” (Radamisto)
9. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 3: “Qual Nave Smarrita” (Radamisto) 1
10. Flavio, Re De’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 2: “Privarmi Ancora Dell’amata Belt?… ” (Guido) 1
11. Flavio, Re De’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 2: “Rompo I Lacci” (Guido) 1
12. Amadigi Di Gaula, HWV 11, Act 2: “Sussurrate, Onde Vezzose” (Amadigi) 1
13. Tolomeo, Re D’egitto, HWV 25, Act 3: “Che Pi Si Tarda Omai… Inumano Fratel… ” (Tolomeo) 1
14. Tolomeo, Re D’egitto, HWV 25, Act 3: “Stille Amare” (Tolomeo) 1
15. Giustino, HWV 37, Act 1: “Chi Mi Chiama Alla Gloria?… ” (Giustino) 1
16. Giustino, HWV 37, Act 1: “Se Parla Nel Mio Cor” (Giustino) 1
17. Ezio, HWV 29, Act 1: “Pensa a Serbarmi, O Cara” (Ezio) 1
18. Flavio, Re De’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 1: “Son Pur Felice Al Fine… ” (Guido) 1
19. Flavio, Re De’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 1: “Bel Contento” (Guido)