Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Il Pomo d’Oro, Kathryn Lewek, John Chest
Conductor: Francesco Corti
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Pentatone
Catalogue: PTC5186965
Release: 2022
Size: 1.28 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Overture HWV 336
Armida abbandonata, HWV 105
02. I. Dietro l’orme fugaci
03. II. Ah crudele
04. III. Per te mi struggo, infido
05. IV. O voi, dell’incostante e procelloso mare
06. V. Venti, venti, fermate
07. VI. Ma che parlo, che dico?
08. VII. In tanti affanni miei
Almira, HWV 1
09. Ouverture
Apollo e Dafne, HWV 122
10. I. La terra è liberata
11. II. Pende il ben dell’universo
12. III. Ch’il superbetto amore
13. IV. Spezza l’arco e getta l’armi
14. V. Felicissima quest’alma
15. VI. Che voce! Che beltà!
16. VII. Ardi, adore preghi in vano
17. VIII. Che crudel! Ch’importuno
18. IX. Una guerra ho dentro il seno
19. X. Placati al fin, o cara
20. XI. Come rosa in su la spina
21. XII. Ah! Ch’un Dio non dovrebbe
22. XIII. Come in ciel benigna stella
23. XIV. Odi la mia ragion
24. XV. Deh, lascia addolcire
25. XVI. Sempre t’adorerò
26. XVII. Mie piante correte
27. XVIII. Che vidi, che mirai?
28. XIX. Cara pianta
Almira, HWV 1
29. Chaconne
30. Bourrée
31. Menuet
32. Rigaudon
33. Sarabande
34. Ritornello
Compact cantatas with expressive depth. Il pomo d’oro and Francesco Corti present Handel’s Apollo e Dafne and Armida abbandonata, together with two outstanding vocalists: soprano Kathryn Lewek (Armida and Dafne) and baritone John Chest (Apollo). Handel composed these two cantatas shortly after his Italian sojourn (1706-1709), and they demonstrate his acquaintance with and aptitude for Italian operatic music. Compared to opera, supporting roles are left out of these relatively compact cantatas, increasing the focus on the main characters, and heightening the expressive depth of their music. Il pomo d’oro performs these pieces with historically-informed ears, lively and colourful. The cantatas alternate with several delightful orchestral pieces by Handel, including several movements from his Almira-Suite.