Philippe Jaroussky – The Handel Album (2017) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

For this performance, Philippe Jaroussky has picked a bouquet of pieces from lesser-known operas. Siroe, Riccardo primo, Flavio, Tolomeo and many others, written for the London stage between 1715 and 1740. With his Artaserse ensemble, which Jaroussky considers to have been the place where he has been able to fully mature, over several years of playing concerts all over the world, the counter-tenor also presents a reflection on the repertoire of the castrato. Because, since this little procedure was discontinued, the singers tackling these roles have been performing airs which were not written for us, and have to be adapted to us. Bearing in mind that when Haendel put on an opera with a different troupe, he didn’t hesitate to re-work entire roles to adapt them to new singers; Jaroussky has taken it upon himself to do the same for some of these airs, which he knows are not suited to his type of voice, and for which original versions with the correct tones are not always available. Regardless, this is an excellent exploration of Haendel’s rarities, with some virtuoso turns, and material running from the introverted to the narrative, the lyrical to the explosive. Note that Artaserse are playing without a conductor, Jaroussky leading from the front, with his voice.

Tracklist:
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759)
01. Imeneo, HWV 41, Act 1: “Se potessero i sospir’ miei” (Tirinto)
02. Riccardo I, ré d’Inghilterra, HWV 23, Act 1: “Agitato da fiere tempeste” (Riccardo)
03. Siroe, re di Persia, HWV 24, Act 3: “Son stanco, ingiusti Numi … ” (Siroe)
04. Siroe, re di Persia, HWV 24, Act 3: “Deggio morire, o stelle” (Siroe)
05. Serse, HWV 40, Act 2: “Sì, la voglio e l’otterrò” (Arsamene)
06. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 2: “Ombra cara” (Radamisto)
07. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 3: “Vieni, d’empietà mostro crudele … ” (Radamisto)
08. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 3: “Vile, se mi dai vita” (Radamisto)
09. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 3: “Qual nave smarrita” (Radamisto)
10. Flavio, re de’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 2: “Privarmi ancora dell’amata beltà? … ” (Guido)
11. Flavio, re de’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 2: “Rompo i lacci” (Guido)
12. Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11, Act 2: “Sussurrate, onde vezzose” (Amadigi)
13. Tolomeo, re d’Egitto, HWV 25, Act 3: “Che più si tarda omai … Inumano fratel … ” (Tolomeo)
14. Tolomeo, re d’Egitto, HWV 25, Act 3: “Stille amare” (Tolomeo)
15. Giustino, HWV 37, Act 1: “Chi mi chiama alla gloria? … ” (Giustino)
16. Giustino, HWV 37, Act 1: “Se parla nel mio cor” (Giustino)
17. Ezio, HWV 29, Act 1: “Pensa a serbarmi, o cara” (Ezio)
18. Flavio, re de’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 1: “Son pur felice al fine … ” (Guido)
19. Flavio, re de’ Longobardi, HWV 16, Act 1: “Bel contento” (Guido)