Handel Arias

A newly compiled anthology of Decca recordings on Eloquence surveys the healthy state of Handel singing in England in the 1960s, before this music became the preserve of musicians and singers within the period-instrument movement. This generous (145-minute) collection is based around a pair of newly re-mastered recital albums made by the contralto Bernadette Greevy and the bass Forbes Robinson. Greevy was a true contralto in the tradition of Kathleen Ferrier, Helen Watts, Janet Baker and Norma Procter. Her 1965–56 recital was drawn from a wide range of Handel’s Italian operas (Ottone, Partenope, Alcina, Admeto, Rodelinda, Rinaldo, Atalanta), and it displayed the richness of her voice to fullest advantage, as well as formidable vocal technique and excellent Italian diction. Robinson’s 1966 recital represents a wide spectrum of the composer’s music in opera, ode, masque and oratorio from 1719 through the 1740s, including familiar favourites (‘O ruddier than the cherry’ in Acis and Galatea) alongside much rarer delights such as ‘Si, tra i ceppi’ from the early Berenice. Decca led the way in the Handel revival of the 1950s. A trail-blazing Messiah, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, presented the oratorio in an authentic version with up-todate scholarship. It was followed by Sosarme and Semele on the label’s early-music imprint, L’Oiseau-Lyre. The very first L’Oiseau-Lyre stereo LP was ‘Music of Handel’, issued in January 1959 and excerpted here. It featured two well-established Brit

Tracks

1~1~Ottone: Vieni, O Figlio
1~2~Partenope: Voglio Dire
1~3~Alexander Balus: Convey Me To Some Peaceful Shore
1~4~Alcina: Verdi Prati
1~5~Ottone: La Speranza
1~6~Admeto: Cangio D’Aspetto
1~7~Rodelinda: Dove Sei
1~8~Rinaldo: Lascia Ch’Io Pianga
1~9~Atalanta: Care Selve
1~10~Clori, Tirsi E Fileno: Come La Rondinella
1~11~Bernadette Greevy, Contralto
1~12~Alcina: Tornami A Vagheggiar
1~13~Alcina: Ombre Pallide
1~14~Giulio Cesare: V’Adoro, Pupille
1~15~Giulio Cesare: Da Tempeste Il Legno Infranto
1~16~Samson: With Plaintive Note
1~17~Samson: Let The Bright Seraphim
1~18~Joan Sutherland, Soprano
2~1~Esther: Tune Your Harps To Cheerful Strains*
2~2~William Herbert, Tenor
2~3~Esther: Turn Not, O Queen, Thy Face Away*
2~4~Hervey Alan, Bass
2~5~Alexander’S Feast: Revenge, Timotheus Cries
2~6~Ezio: Se Un Bell’Ardire
2~7~Susanna: Peace Crown’D With Roses
2~8~Hercules: The God Of Battle
2~9~Acis And Galatea: O Ruddier Than The Cherry*
2~10~Theodora: Wide Spread His Name
2~11~Judas MacCabaeus: Arm, Arm Ye Brave*
2~12~Berenice: Si, Tra I Ceppi*
2~13~Semele: Leave Me, Loathsome Light
2~14~Alcina: Pensa A Chi Geme
2~15~Samson: Honour And Arms
2~16~Forbes Robinson, Bass

Details

Format: CD
Artist: Joan Sutherland, Bernadette Greevy, Forbes Robinson, Hervey Alan, William Herber
Release Date: 14 July 2017
Genre: Classical Music
Label: ELOQUENCE / DECCA
Distributor: Universal Music