Possibly the best known of Handel's operas is Giulio Cesare and this recording is superlative. The excellent Jennifer Larmore in the title role performs the coloratura with great skill and don't be surprised if you find your jaw dropping at the combination of flexibility and strength in her voice. I only know Schlick from this recording, but she is a sympathetic Cleopatra and then Fink and Rorholm are very good as Cornelia and Sesto respectively. Jacobs can be variable, but he is on stunning form here. There are quite a few recordings of this opera, but this one takes some beating!
This is a wonderful DVD (and you can get it on CD).
Cast: Dame Janet Baker, Valerie Masterson, James Bowman, John Tomlinson, Della Jones, et al.
Sung in English but that does not detract one bit in my opinion. I don't like countertenors but James Bowman does a magnificent job in this.
Here are a couple samples (my favorite two arias from it):
My favourite Handel opera is Ariodante and my favourite recording is this one:
Von Otter is the perfect Handelian and whilst she may not have the nobility and taste of a Janet Baker, she is unmatched in the title role as far as modern recordings are concerned (it will be interesting to see what Di Donato makes of the role in performance). The rest of the cast are all very good too, with Podles a superb villain and Dawson a tender heroine. If you aren't a countertenor fan then this is the recording for you (completely countertenor free). Minkowski conducts with verve and energy and the overall cast are perfect for their roles. Highly recommended.
Von Otter is the perfect Handelian and whilst she may not have the nobility and taste of a Janet Baker, she is unmatched in the title role as far as modern recordings are concerned (it will be interesting to see what Di Donato makes of the role in performance). The rest of the cast are all very good too, with Podles a superb villain and Dawson a tender heroine. If you aren't a countertenor fan then this is the recording for you (completely countertenor free). Minkowski conducts with verve and energy and the overall cast are perfect for their roles. Highly recommended.
I like Jacobs Rinaldo the best. Cesare is amazing, but it's so long. My favorite, thus far, is Arminio with Cencic on Decca.
I love Baroque opera and to me there is absolutely nothing that comes close to this:
There is absolutely not one single dull moment, the story is great, and the performances are outstanding. In fact, Artaserse is probably in my top 3 of favorite operas, behind Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.
There is absolutely not one single dull moment, the story is great, and the performances are outstanding. In fact, Artaserse is probably in my top 3 of favorite operas, behind Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni.
Theres an English Rodelinda with Sutherland recorded early in her career before she properly started with the odd diction. I believe Janet Baker is in the cast too.
I have this Rodelinda on CD and I like it, though I'm not the typical opera listener.
Handel: Rodelinda
Sophie Daneman (soprano), Adrian Thompson (tenor), Katherin Robbin (soprano), Robin Blaze (bass) & Christopher Purves (tenor)
The Raglan Baroque Players, Nicholas Kraemer
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