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Presto News - 14th June 2010Handel's Berenice |
 This week sees the release of the latest volume in Alan Curtis’s extensive exploration of Handel’s operas. Having already recorded six for Virgin (Admeto, Arminio, Deidamia, Radamisto, Rodrigo and Fernando) and five for DG (Rodelinda, Floridante, Tolomeo, Ezio and Alcina), Curtis has done more than most to promote this wonderful music to the widest possible audience. And judging by the number of pre-orders we have had for this title, he has also built up a significant number of followers.  Alan Curtis Written in 1737, Berenice was one of Handel’s later operas. It was a difficult year for the composer both professionally and personally. Handel had lived in England since 1712, and since then had spent a considerable amount of his time, money and energy managing opera companies. In 1737 he was in the middle of his third company (this time at Covent Garden Theatre), but had a major rival in the form of the ‘Opera of the Nobility’ run by Italian composer Porpora and featuring star castrato Farinelli. In the end the Opera of the Nobility collapsed but not before it had caused Handel considerable financial and emotional strain. To make matters worse Handel also suffered a stroke which left his right arm temporarily paralysed. Disabled from playing the harpsichord and organ it was feared that he might never play again, but in the end made a remarkable quick recovery. Against this backdrop Berenice received its first performance on 18th May. It lasted only four performances, which was the fewest number for a first run of any of Handel’s operas. He never revived it, and re-used only a few pieces in his later works. Despite that rather unpromising beginning, listening to this new recording today it displays all the craft, imagination and musical quality associated with his more famous operas. There is a huge amount to enjoy here with lots of lovely music full of fascinating musical and dramatic ideas. The performance is very good with Swedish soprano Klara Ek full of dramatic power in the title role, while Italian countertenor Franco Fagioli’s Demetrio is sincere, sustained and very musical. In fact all the soloists sing well and are superbly supported by Alan Curtis and his ensemble Il Complesso Barocco. As usual there are a couple of samples below to give you an idea. I spent ages trying to decide what bits to give you as there are lots of fantastic bits, but in the end have opted for Fabio’s aria ‘Vedi l’ape’ as it is well sung and displays Handel’s hugely imaginative orchestration brilliantly - the triplet violin passage portraying a bee flying from flower to flower; and the duet which concludes Act I ‘Se il mio amor’, which is essentially a love duet and is full of lovely imitation and is typical of the general very high quality of music and performance throughout this set. Enjoy!
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 Handel: Berenice, regina d'Egitto, HWV 38Klara Ek (soprano), Ingela Bohlin (soprano), Franco Fagioli (countertenor), Romina Basso (mezzo-soprano), Mary Ellen Nesi (mezzo-soprano), Vito Priante (bass) & Zorzi Giustiniani (tenor), Il Complesso Barocco, Alan Curtis
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Chris O'Reilly - chris@prestoclassical.co.uk |
listen - Handel - Berenice: Aria -Vedi l'apeNew Releases14th June 2010 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Peace of UtrechtNicki Kennedy (soprano), William Towers (alto), Wolfram Lattke (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor) & Peter Harvey (bass), The Netherlands Bach Society, Jos van VeldhovenThe Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713. The Peace of Utrecht was celebrated in 1713 with music, festive fireworks and specially commissioned compositions such as the Utrecht Te Deum and Utrecht Jubilate by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) and the Ode for the Peace of Utrecht by William Croft (1678-1727). |
 Avison - Sonatas for HarpsichordGary Cooper (harpsichord), Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violins) & Robin Michael (cello) (Avison Ensemble)The release of this set of sonatas sees the completion of the recording of all of Charles Avison’s orchestral and chamber works. All have received excellent critical acclaim. The Opus 5 sonatas were written in 1756 and Opus 7 in 1760 and influences of Rameau and Corelli are evident, amongst others. It can be said that Avison’s sonatas are a true gem of eighteenth century music and firmly reinforce the claim that he was one of the most important native British composers in that century. |
 Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245Julian Prégardien, Benoît Arnould, Dominik Wörner, Salomé Haller, Tanya Aspelmeier, Julien Freymuth, Pascal Bertin & Michael Feyfar, La chapelle Rhénane, Benoît Haller (direction)A revelatory new recording of the St John Passion, combining elements of all four performing versions: 1724, 1725, 1728 and 1746/47. Benoît Haller - already noted for the musical power of his relation to the wordings of texts, thanks to his work on Schütz - wanted to underline the importance of this passion which goes far beyond the purely liturgical. It displays deep feelings which we may have in the our lives, and presents archetypal characters - everyone can at one time be the one who sacrifices, who betrays, denies, judges... To support this intense drama, Benoît Haller chose his ideal version from the four - the one which he felt was the most balanced, correct, edifying. |
 Haydn: London Symphonies Nos. 97 & 98Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton KoopmanAcclaimed music director Ton Koopman, renowned for his interpretation of the early music repertoire, embarks on a series of recordings which will cover all twelve “London” symphonies of Joseph Haydn. They will be performed on instruments of the period – Koopman is joined on this venture by his orchestra Amsterdam Baroque, the group with which he has produced many of his finest performances. |
 Penderecki - Violin & Horn ConcertosRobert Kabara (violin), Radovan Vlatkovic (horn), Sinfonietta Cracovia, Krzysztof PendereckiPenderecki's international recognition began in 1959 at the Warsaw Autumn with the premieres of the works Strophen, Psalms of David, and Emanations, but the piece that truly brought him to international attention was Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, written for 52 string instruments. Penderecki's compositions include operas, symphonies, choral works, as well as chamber and instrumental music. He has won many prestigious awards including Grammy Awards in 1987 and 1998 and 2001, and the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition in 1992. The Violin Concerto was a turning point in Penderecki’s career, as he started to embrace romanticism and reject the extreme modernism of his early career. The Horn Concerto is receiving here its premier recording. |
 David Briggs - Mass for Notre DameDavid Briggs (organ), Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Stephen LaytonDavid Briggs studied with Jean Langlais in Paris and was profoundly influenced by the playing of Pierre Cochereau, Organist Titulaire at Notre Dame Cathedral (1955-1984), from an early age. Briggs was the first British winner of the Tournemire Prize at the St Alban’s International Organ Improvisation Competition. He is Organist Emeritus of Gloucester Cathedral, where he directed the music for eight years. He is renowned worldwide for his brilliant improvisations and is also a prolific composer. |
 Blessed Spirit: A Gluck RetrospectiveAilish Tynan, Sophie Bevan (sopranos) & Anna Stéphany (mezzo-soprano), Classical Opera Company, Ian PageThe Classical Opera Company was founded in 1997 by conductor Ian Page. It specialises in the music of Mozart and his contemporaries, performing with its own period-instrument orchestra, and is emerging as one of Britain’s most exciting and highly regarded young arts organisations. It has attracted considerable critical and public acclaim, not only for the high quality of its performances but also for its imaginative programming and, in particular, its ability to discover and nurture outstanding young singers. |
 18 New Brilliant Classics issuesBrilliant Classics releases are coming thick and fast at the moment, and it only seems like a couple of weeks since I was talking about the last batch. This month's highlights include some more releases in the 'Opera Collection' series, with old DG recordings like Richard Strauss's Friedenstag with Sinopoli as well as some World Premiere releases like Hummel's Mathilde von Guise. Elsewhere you can enjoy the LaSalle Quartet's Zemlinsky, and Volume 4 in the ongoing Complete Schütz edition. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 12th June 2010 |
Building a Library - Schumann: Piano Concerto |
 First ChoiceAndreas Staier (piano), Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Philippe Herreweghe, |
 Historic ChoiceWalter Gieseking (piano), Dresden State Orchestra, Karl Bohm |
Disc of the Week |
 Bach - Sonatas & Partitas BWV1004-6Isabelle Faust (violin) |
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