Composer: George Frideric Handel
Orchestra: Collegium Musicum 90
Conductor: Simon Standage
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Chandos
Catalogue: CHAN0650
Release: 2000
Size: 343 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Alcina
01. Overture
02. Musette: Un peu lentement
03. Gavotte
04. Sarabande – Gavotte (reprise)
05. Minuet
06. Act II Scene 12: Aria: Verdi prati, selva amene
07. Act II: Entree des Songes agreables
08. Act II: Entree des Songes funestes
09. Act II: Entre des Songes agreables effrayes
10. Act II: Le combat des Songes funestes et agreables
Arminio
11. Overture
12. Minuet
Largo from Xerxes (instrumental arrangement)
13. Act I: Ombra mai fu, “Largo” (arr. for orchestra)
Berenice, regina d’Egitto, HWV 38
14. Overture
15. Andante larghetto [Minuet]
16. Ghigg
Rinaldo
17. Act II Scene IV: Aria: Lascia ch’io pianga (Let me Lament) (arr. for orchestra)
Rodelinda
18. Overture
19. Minuet
20. Act I: Aria: Dove sei, amato bene
Ariodante
21. Overture
22. [Alla breve]
23. Act I: Aria: Volate, amori
24. Mussette: Lentement
25. Mussette: Andante
26. Allegro
Gramophone Classical Music Guide2010
Handel’s music is never more winsome than when it’s written for special occasions, not least operas. Several of the items in this programme are arias, but they aren’t sung. Like today’s musicals, though not for calculated commercial reasons, some became what we would now term pops, and Handel reworked them as instrumental pieces, so no liberty has been taken here in presenting them in that form. The charm of this music hasn’t escaped the notice of others in recording studios, but it has never been more persuasively captured than it is by Collegium Musicum 90. Other recordings exist of the complete operas and some of the individual instrumental items, but Arminio is represented by only one aria; there’s nothing run-of-the-mill about the fugal subject of the Overture, or its treatment, and the Minuet is winsome and light of step. Collegium Musicum 90 fields a team of 32 players but their sound is marvellously light and transparent even when in full flood, and their use of period instruments (or copies thereof) leads also to a natural, revelatory balance. Flawless recording and excellent notes by Standage complete an outstanding issue.