Riccardo Primo is one of Handel’s unjustly neglected operas, musically speaking it is undoubtedly one of his finest. The plot of the opera is based around the eponymous hero, King Richard Lionheart, who is on his way to Jerusalem to fight in the Crusades. The premiere of the opera took place on November 11, 1727 at the King's Theatre in London to celebrate the coronation of King George II, and then was not performed again until 1964
July 2008
****
“There is plenty of fine music on display, including an imaginatively scored storm scene right at the start. All in all, it’s a highly presentable vocal line-up. There's also very good work from the Kammerorchester Basel, who are constantly alert, and from conductor Pail Goodwin, who shows a strong feeling for tempo in the arias.”
October 2008
“Goodwin… does an admirable job of pacing the music, and the Basle Chamber Orchestra plays brightly… the arias are consistently excellent. …Lawrence Zazzo is aptly full-blooded and lyrical in the title-role… Nuria Rial sings Costanza's arias gorgeously...”
“Nuria Rial sings neatly, sweetly with smooth tone and line”
11th May 2008
****
“Goodwin’s cast is superb, headed by Lawrence Zazzo as the errant king, Nuria Rial as the sweet princess and especially the fiery Geraldine McGreevy as the jealous termagant. The veteran David Wilson-Johnson is in splendid form as the defeated Cypriot tyrant.”
7th June 2008
****
“Rewritten with enhanced regal bravado for the coronation of George II, Handel's 1727 opera of Richard the Lionheart is a rarely heard but rewarding enterprise. Goodwin conducts a fervent Basel Chamber Orchestra in this new scholarly version, fully exploiting the dramatic twists of the King's quest to reclaim his abducted fiancée, Constanza. Amid much nice character-building from the decent cast, Nuria Rial enjoys Constanza's luxuriant lines, while Lawrence Zazzo revels as the Lionheart. Riccardo's Act III revenge aria is truly ominous, furiously driven by Goodwin and some innovative brass writing.”
