One should not think that at the time when Handel was around, an opera was a finished product, etched in stone, the score of which was some kind of Holy Grail that would not suffer any tampering with, be it so benign. From that point of view, Handel’s Ottone is a case in point. Some extensive adjustments probably arose from Handel’s collaboration with the famous prima donna Francesca Cuzzoni, who had arrived in London in December 1722, but a fortnight before the first performance, and immediately threw a tantrum. Several of her arias she rejected and had had Handel substitute with entirely different new music. According to Mainwaring’s Memoirs of the Life of the Late George Frederic Handel (1760), having one day some words with Cuzzoni on her refusing to sing the aria Falsa imagine, the composer had shouted, in French: “I know very well that you are a veritable she-devil: but I will show you that I am Beelzebub the Chief of the Devils ” and with this he took her up by the waist, and, if she uttered another word, swore that he would fling her out of the window. This being said, many of the modifications he made during the rehearsal period had nothing to do with Cuzzoni. All in all, eleven arias and one duet were finished but then discarded and replaced before the first performance, and several other arias were considerably revised . It is impossible to determine which changes were instigated by Handel himself on artistic grounds and which were compromises in order to satisfy his singers’ whims and overblown egos. In addition to rejections, redrafts of scenes and wholesale substitutions by Handel during the opera’s composition and preparation, further amendments were also made during its first run . Moreover, he replaced and also added several extra arias for the twelfth performance, which took place on 26 March 1723 after a break of several weeks because of Lent. So: what does “the real” Ottone look like? This recording presents a reconstruction of the complete first performance version, but it also incorporates Handel’s expansions to two scenes reworked especially for Cuzzoni. As an appendix, there are three bonus tracks of new arias composed for the title-role in Handel’s 1726 revival, making it an Ottone as complete as possible. All this extra music will allow the listener to enjoy even more the great voices of the recording, to begin with the countertenor Max Cencic, but also the soprano Lauren Snouffer – who sings the part initially held by the infamous Cuzzoni -, accompanied by the ensemble Il pomo d’oro playing on period instruments and conducted by George Petrou.
Tracklist:
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
CD1
01. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Overture-a) Lentement-Allegro – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
02. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Overture-b) Gavotte – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
03. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Pur che regni il figlio amato” – Ann Hallenberg & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
04. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Chi più lieto è di me” – Ann Hallenberg & Xavier Sabata & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
05. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“La speranza è giunta in porto” – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Ann Hallenberg
06. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Vien di Romano inclita figlia” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & Xavier Sabata & George Petrou
07. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Bel labbro formato per farmi beato” – Xavier Sabata & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
08. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“È tale Otton?” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou
09. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Falsa imagine, m’ingannasti” – George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro
10. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-Concerto – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
11. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Te, che assalir le nostre navi osasti” – Max Cencic & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Pavel Kudinov
12. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Del minacciar del vento si ride” – Pavel Kudinov & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
13. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Tutto a più liete cure” – Max Cencic & Anna Starushkevych & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
14. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Ritorna, o dolce amore, conforta questo sen” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Max Cencic
15. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Anch’io sperai” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych
16. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Di resti pui così” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych
17. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Tu la madre d’Otton?” – Ann Hallenberg & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer
18. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Pensa ad amare” – Ann Hallenberg & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
19. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Adelaide, di cui con tanta lode; Indietro, indietro” – Xavier Sabata & Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
20. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Stenti la Bianca mano” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Ann Hallenberg & George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer & Xavier Sabata
21. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Giunge Otton?” – Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
22. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Affanni del pensier, un sol momento” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou
23. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-Sinfonia – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
24. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Cedi il ferro, o la vita” – Xavier Sabata & George Petrou & Max Cencic & Il Pomo d’Oro
25. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Tu puoi straziarmi” – Xavier Sabata & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
26. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“È di più mio rival?” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Max Cencic & George Petrou
27. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Dell’onda ai fieri moti” – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Max Cencic
CD2
01. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-Sinfonia – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
02. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Per breve spazio a me colui ” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Xavier Sabata & George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych
03. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Lascia, che nel suo viso” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Xavier Sabata
04. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Ah! che più non resisto” – Anna Starushkevych & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
05. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Ah! tu non sai quant’il mio cor sospira” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych
06. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Ben a ragion Matilda” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Ann Hallenberg
07. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Veni, o figlio” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Ann Hallenberg
08. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Spera simi dice” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer
09. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Quegli, è certo il mio sposo” – Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou & Max Cencic & Anna Starushkevych & Il Pomo d’Oro
10. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“All’orror d’un duolo eterno il mio amore” – George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych & Il Pomo d’Oro
11. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“O illustre Teofane” – George Petrou & Max Cencic & Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro
12. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Alla fama, dimmi il vero” – Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
13. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Con gelosi sospetti” – Max Cencic & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
14. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Dopo l’orrore” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Max Cencic
15. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“O grati orrori” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou
16. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“S’io dir potessi al mio crudele” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou
17. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Del gran sasso” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Xavier Sabata & Pavel Kudinov
18. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Le profonde vie dell’onde” – George Petrou & Pavel Kudinov & Il Pomo d’Oro
19. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Odo gente” – Anna Starushkevych & Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro & Max Cencic & Xavier Sabata & George Petrou
20. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Deh! non dir, che molle amante” – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Max Cencic
21. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Già d’ogni interno” – Xavier Sabata & Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & Pavel Kudinov & George Petrou
22. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Odo il suono” – Ann Hallenberg & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych
23. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 2-“Notte cara” – Anna Starushkevych & George Petrou & Ann Hallenberg & Il Pomo d’Oro
CD3
01. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Dove sei? Dolce mia vita!” – Max Cencic & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
02. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Già t’invola” – Ann Hallenberg & Il Pomo d’Oro & Max Cencic & George Petrou
03. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Trema, tiranno” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Ann Hallenberg
04. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“lo son tradito” – George Petrou & Max Cencic & Il Pomo d’Oro
05. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Tanti affanni” – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Max Cencic
06. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Empi, al vostro attentato” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer
07. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“D’inalzar i flutti” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Xavier Sabata & George Petrou
08. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Perchè in vita tornai” – George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro & Pavel Kudinov
09. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Temerario pirata” – Lauren Snouffer & Xavier Sabata & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Pavel Kudinov
10. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Si, mi traete alme” – George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer & Il Pomo d’Oro
11. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Benchè mi sia crudele” – Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
12. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Deh! ti trattiene” – Pavel Kudinov & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
13. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Nò, non temere, o bella!” – George Petrou & Pavel Kudinov & Il Pomo d’Oro
14. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Pur cangiasti alla fin” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Lauren Snouffer
15. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Gode l’alma consolata” – Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
16. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Uno de’ servi miei” – George Petrou & Ann Hallenberg & Max Cencic & Anna Starushkevych & Il Pomo d’Oro
17. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Nel suo sangue, e nel tuo pianto” – Anna Starushkevych & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
18. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Matilda, arresta si piede” – Ann Hallenberg & Xavier Sabata & Anna Starushkevych & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Pavel Kudinov & Max Cencic
19. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Frena, crudel” – Max Cencic & Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & George Petrou
20. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“A’ teneri affetti” – George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro & Lauren Snouffer & Max Cencic
21. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Ma qual caso” – Il Pomo d’Oro & Ann Hallenberg & George Petrou & Pavel Kudinov & Anna Starushkevych & Max Cencic & Xavier Sabata & Lauren Snouffer
22. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Faccia ritorno l’antica pace” – Lauren Snouffer & Max Cencic & George Petrou & Anna Starushkevych & Xavier Sabata & Il Pomo d’Oro & Ann Hallenberg & Pavel Kudinov
23. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Cervo altier” – Max Cencic & Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou
24. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 1-“Io sperai trovar riposo” – Max Cencic & George Petrou & Il Pomo d’Oro
25. Handel: Ottone, HWV 15 / Act 3-“Un disprezzato affetto” – Il Pomo d’Oro & George Petrou & Max Cencic
Personnel
Max Emanuel Cenčić (Ottone)
Lauren Snouffer (Teofane)
Pavel Kudinov (Emireno)
Ann Hallenberg (Gismonda)
Xavier Sabata (Adalberto)
Anna Starushkevych (Matilda)
Il Pomo d’Oro
George Petrou
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