Peter van Heyghen, Les Muffatti & Hasnaa Bennani – Handel: Arie per la Cuzzoni (2016) [FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

When one looks at the biographies of famous prima donnas, the suspicion sometimes arises that opera is not really an art form but a way of life. At any rate, for many of its protagonists, the theatrics, the scheming and the scandalmongering of the stage appear to flow seamlessly into real life. And the situation in the eighteenth century was no different from today. Among the most famous and also the most notorious stars of European opera houses was the Italian diva Francesca Cuzzoni, whose extravagance must have been as phenomenal as her singing talent. Had there already been a gutter press in her time, La Cuzzoni would certainly have been one of the most reliable suppliers of headlines. But, even without tabloids, news of La Cuzzonis affairs got around quickly, and indeed seem to have played no small part in the fascination she exercised over her audience. Her early success, her fairytale fame and eventually her dramatic fall caught the imagination of the musical world. This CD features some of the most beautiful and breathtaking arias, composed for the diva by Handel.

Tracklist:
Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759)
01. Scipione, HWV 20: Ouverture
02. Scipione, HWV 20, Acte I: Marcia
03. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Acte II Scène 3: Recitativo “Che sento? Oh Dio!”
04. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Acte II Scène 3: Aria “Se pietà di me non senti”
05. Scipione, HWV 20, Acte II Scène 8: Aria “Scoglio d’immota fronde”
06. Ottone, re di Germania, HWV 15: Concerto
07. Rodelinda, regina de’ Longobardi, HWV 19, Acte I: Aria “Ombre, piante, urne funeste!”
08. Siroe, re di Persia, HWV 24, Acte I Scène 13: Recitativo “Non credo che sian finti”
09. Siroe, re di Persia, HWV 24, Acte I Scène 13: Aria “Or mi perdo di speranza”
10. Tamerlano, HWV 18, Acte II Scène 2: Aria “Non è più tempo”
11. Tolomeo, re d’Egitto, HWV 25: Ouverture
12. Admeto, rè di Tessaglia, HWV 22: Ballo di larve
13. Scipione, HWV 20: Sinfonia
14. Admeto, rè di Tessaglia, HWV 22: Sinfonia
15. Ottone, re di Germania, HWV 15, Acte I Scène 3: Recitativo “É tale Otton?”
16. Ottone, re di Germania, HWV 15, Acte I Scène 3: Air “Falsa imagine”
17. Rodelinda, HWV 19, Acte III Scène 4: Aria “Se’l mio duol non è si forte”
18. Admeto, rè di Tessaglia, HWV 22: Sinfonia
19. Alessandro, HWV 21, Acte I Scène 6: Aria “Nò, piu soffrir non voglio”
20. Tolomeo, re d’Egitto, HWV 25, Acte III Scène 5: Aria “Torni omai la pace all’alma”