Related Links

Recommended Links

Give the Composers Timeline Poster



Site News

What's New for
Winter 2018/2019?

Site Search

Follow us on
Facebook    Twitter

Affiliates

In association with
Amazon
Amazon UKAmazon GermanyAmazon CanadaAmazon FranceAmazon Japan

ArkivMusic
CD Universe

JPC

ArkivMusic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

CD Review

George Frideric Handel

Ariodante

An Opera in Three Acts
  • Dame Janet Baker (Ariodante)
  • Edith Mathis (Ginevra)
  • Norma Burrowes (Dalinda)
  • James Bowman (Polinesso)
  • David Rendall (Lurcanio)
  • Samuel Ramey (Il Re di Scozia)
London Voices
English Chamber Orchestra/Raymond Leppard
Philips 473955-2 ADD 3CDs: 72:38, 66:29, 62:22
Find it at AmazonFind it at Amazon UKFind it at Amazon GermanyFind it at Amazon CanadaFind it at Amazon FranceFind it at Amazon Japan

Handel's immensely important contribution to the operatic genre has always been acknowledged so it is very good to see this star-studded recording from the mid-seventies back in the field.

'Ariodante' is one of the more enjoyable of the composer's operas with some fine orchestral music, memorable arias and a fair choral share of proceedings. We have obviously moved on a bit since Leppard's recording but the opera is played with great zest and enthusiasm that occasionally belies the period instrument school which is so dominating these days.

The well priced set can boast of an immeasurably strong cast with the mercurial Janet Baker and Edith Mathis taking the leading roles and I doubt if the recent set on DG with Minkowski is preferable in this regard although Anne Sofie von Otter is a formidable competitor.

Absence of libretto may tip the scales for some but I can't help feeling that is a real bargain on almost all counts.

Copyright © 2003, Gerald Fenech

Trumpet