NewOlde.com - Early Music & Baroque Opera Reviews, CD New Releases 2013, Historically-informed Stagings and Dance

NewOlde.com
Promoting Historically-Inspired Performances of Early Music and Baroque Opera

Verónica Cangemi out as soloist at the BEMF production of Handel's Almira because of a U.S. visa problem! "Securing visa for foreign artists to perform in the United States is a labyrinthine nightware rife with horror stories: prominent ensembles arbitrarily denied, artists harassed at consulates, outrageous fees, cancelled performances." Musical America Special Report - Visas 2012 (pdf).

New Releases

2012 Releases

Handel. L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato. (HWV 55, London 1740). Carus (2 CDs, June 2013). Peter Neumann, Collegium Cartusianum, Kölner Kammerchor. Il Penseroso: Maria Keohane, soprano; L'Allegro: Julia Doyle, soprano; Benjamin Hulett, tenor; Andreas Wolf, bass. DE

Charpentier. Motets pour la maison de Guise: Litanies à la Vierge et Miserere. Harmonia Mundi (1 CD, August 2013). Performance schedule. Sébastien Daucé, Ensemble Correspondences. FR

Giuseppe Scarlatti (1718-1777). Dove è amore è gelosia (Krumlov Castle, 1768). Opus Arte (1 DVD or Blu-ray, April 2013). Details. Historically-reconstructed staging in the restored baroque theatre at Krumlov Castle, Czech Republic with authentic stage machinery, props and scenery. Director: Ondřej Havelka. Vojtěch Spurný, Schwarzenberg Court Orchestra. Blu-ray: OABD 7120D: UK | FR | DE
DVD: OA 1104D: UK | FR | DE

Antonio Sacchini (1730-1786). Renaud (Paris 1783). Ediciones Singulares (2 CDs, May 2013). Details. Christophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques. Armide: Marie Kalinine, mezzo-soprano; Renaud: Julien Dran, tenor; Hidraot: Jean-Sébastien Bou, baritone; Mélisse / Une coryphée: Julie Fuchs, soprano; Doris: Katia Velletaz, soprano; Iphise: Jennifer Borghi, mezzo-soprano; Antiope: Chantal Santon, soprano; Tisiphone / Une Chevalier: Cyrille Dubois, tenor; Alecton: Pascal Bourgeois, tenor; Adraste / Mégère / Arcas / Tissapherne: Pierrick Boisseau, baritone. UK | FR | DE

Francesco Provenzale (1624-1704). La Stellidaura vendicante (Naples 1674). dhm (2 CDs, May 2013). Review. Videos: Act I, Act II, Act III. Alessandro de Marchi, Accademia Montis Regalis. Stellidaura: Jennifer Rivera, mezzo-soprano; Armillo: Hagen Matzeit, countertenor; Armidoro: Bogdan Mihai, tenor; Orismondo: Carlo Allemano, tenor; Giampetro: Enzo Capuano, bass. UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Antonio Farina, Pietro Marchitelli, Alessandro Scarlatti. Serenate Napoletane. Pan Classics PC 10287 (1 CD, May 2013). Details. Andréanne Paquin, soprano. Andrea Friggi, Ensemble Odyssee. UK | FR | DE

J.S. Bach. Secular Cantatas vol. 3. BIS 2041 (1 CD, May 2013). Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan. Joanne Lunn, soprano; Hiroya Aoki, countertenor; Makoto Sakurada, tenor. Wedding Cantata BWV 202, Quodlibet BWV 524, Durchlauchster Leopold BWV 173a, Schwingt freudig euch empor BWV 36c. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel, arranged by Mozart, further arranged by Ignaz von Mosel. Timotheus oder die Gewalt der Musik (Alexander's Feast) (K.591, 1790, Mosel 1812). Sony (2 CDs, April 2013). Details. Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien. Roberta Invernizzi, soprano; Werner Güra, tenor; Gerald Finley, bass. The total number of people singing and playing in 1812 was approximately 630 to 640. UK | FR | DE

Augustin Pfleger (1635-1686). Laudate Dominum - Sacred Cantatas. cpo (1 CD, May 2013). Manfred Cordes, Weiser-Renaissance. The first of a new series -- Hofkapellemeister an Schloss Gottorf I. FR | DE

Ingenuin Molitor (1610-1669). Motetten (Innsbruck 1668). musikmuseum 15 (1 CD, May 2013). Details. Peter Waldner, Vita & Anima, La Dolcezza. Maria Erlacher, soprano; Gelinde Sämann, soprano; Markus Flaig, bass. DE

François Couperin. Leçons de Ténèbres, organ pieces. Campra. Cantate domino. Hérisson LH 09 (1 CD, April 2013). Monique Zanetti, soprano; Françoise Masset, soprano; Mathieu Dupouy, organ; Jonathan Dunford, viol; James Holland, theorbo. UK | FR | DE

Matthias Weckmann (1619-1674). Conjuratio. Mirare (1 CD, March 2013). Details. Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. Maria Keohane, soprano; Carlos Mena, countertenor; Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor; Stephan MacLeod, bass; Maude Gratton, organ. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Monteverdi. L'Orfeo. Avie (2 CDs, April 2013). Andrew Parrott, Taverner Consort & Players. Orfeo: Charles Daniels, tenor. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. Giove in Argo (Self pasticcio opera, HWV A14, London 1739). Virgin 50999 7231162 2 (3 CDs, March 2013). Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. Calisto: Karina Gauvin, soprano; Iside: Ann Hallenberg, mezzo-soprano; Diana: Theodora Baka, soprano; Arete (Giove): Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, tenor; Osiris (Erosto: Vito Priante, bass; Licaone: Gianluca Buratto, bass. First recording using the new HHA edition, reconstructed by John Roberts, who discovered the two "lost" arias by Francesco Araja, as reported in his article "The Story of Imeneo" in the 2001 Händel-Jahrbuch. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. Cantatas vol. 1. Ayros AY-HC01 (1 CD, May 2013). Details. Marco Vitale, Contrasto Armonico. Roberta Mameli, soprano. Notte placida e cheta HMV 142, Qualor l'egre pupille HWV 152, Ne' tuoi lumi, o bella Clori HWV 133, Armida abbandonata HWV 105. This is a continuation of the series that began with four volumes on Brilliant Classics. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Alessandro Scarlatti, Handel. Dixit Dominus. Avie (1 CD, May 2013). Owen Rees, Choir of The Queens College Oxford, The Brook Street Band. Elin Manahan Thomas, soprano; Esther Brazil, mezzo-soprano; Sally Bruce-Payne, mezzo-soprano; Guy Cutting, tenor; Matthew Brook, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

J.S. Bach. Cantatas for the complete liturgical year, volume 16 (of 20). Accent Accent 25316 (1 CD, April 2013). Cantatas BWV 34, 173, 184, 129. Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande. Gerlinde Sämann, soprano; Petra Noskaiová, mezzo-soprano; Christoph Genz, tenor; Jan van der Crabben, bass. Fine holeless natural trumpet playing by Jean-François Madeuf and his mates. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Hasse. Harpsichord Sonatas. Accent (1 CD, April 2013). Luca Guglielmi, harpsichord. UK | FR | DE

Demachy. Pièces de violle en musique en tablature (1685). Musica Ficta MF 8016 (1 CD, March 2013). Details. Romina Lischka, bass viol. US | UK | FR | DE | JP

René Drouart de Bousset (1703-1760). Cantates Spirituelles. Brilliant Classics 94288 (1 CD, April 2013). Video. Camille Poul, soprano, or Michiko Takahashi, soprano; Bernhard Hansky, baritone. Le Tendre Amour. UK | FR | DE

Telemann. Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst (Hamburg, 1725-26). Complete recording of all 72 cantatas by Bergen Barokk in progress:
Volume 5: The cantatas for high voice, violin & basso continuo I. Toccata Classics TOCC 0102 (1 CD, April 2013). Details. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Volume 4: The cantatas for middle voice, transverse flute & basso continuo I. Toccata Classics TOCC 0084 (1 CD, February 2012). Details. Franz Vitzthum, countertenor; Peter Holtslag, traverso; Hans Knut Sveen, harpsichord & organ; Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, cello & viol. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Volume 3: The cantatas for high voice, recorder and basso continuo II. Toccata Classics TOCC 0074 (1 CD, March 2011). Details. Mona Julsrud, soprano; Frode Thorsen, recorder; Thomas Boysen, theorbo; Hans Knut Sveen, harpsichord & organ; Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, cello. Handel borrowed opening theme from the first cantata on this disk for "And he shall purify". US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Volume 2: The cantatas for middle voice, violin and basso continuo I. Toccata Classics TOCC 0057 (1 CD, July 2009). Details. Franz Vitzthum, countertenor; Bjarte Eike, violin; Hans Knut Svenn, harpsichord & organ; Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, cello. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Volume 1: The cantatas for high voice, recorder & basso continuo I. Toccata Classics TOCC 0037 (1 CD, August 2006). Details. Mona Julsrud, soprano; Frode Thorsen, recorder; Hans Knut Sveen, harpsichord; Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, cello. This is a superb performance and recording. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Porpora. Aminta: Pastoral Cantatas. Pan Classics (1 CD, April 2013). Marina De Liso, soprano. Stefano Aresi, Stile Galante. UK | FR | DE

G.M. Bononcini, Macnini, Porpora, Sarro, Vinci. I Viaggi di Faustina. Glossa. (1 CD, April 2013). Antonio Florio, I Turcini. Roberta Invernizzi, soprano. Arias for Faustina Bordoni. UK | FR | DE

Hasse. Didone Abbandonata. Naxos 8.660323/25 (3 CDs, February 2013). Details. Live recording of the March 2011 production in Munich. Michael Hofstetter, Hofkapelle Munchen. Didone: Theresa Holzhauser, mezzo-soprano; Selene: Magdalena Hinterdobler, soprano; Araspe: Maria Celeng, soprano; Iarba: Valer Barna-Sabadus, countertenor; Enea: Flavio Ferri-Benedetti, countertenor; Osmida: Andreas Burkhart, baritone. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842). Lodoïska (Paris 1791). Naïve Ambroisie (2 CDs, March 2013). Jérémie Rhorer, Le Cercle de l'Harmonie, Les Éléments. Lodoïska: Nathalie Manfrino, soprano; Lysinka: Hjördis Thébault, soprano; Floreski: Sébastien Guèze, tenor; Titzikan: Philippe Do, tenor; Varbel: Armando Noguera, baritone; Dourlinski: Pierre-Yves Pruvot, baritone; Altamar: Alain Buet, bar itone. UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel, Giovanni Bononcini (1678-1741) (a third Giovanni Bononcini?), Corelli, Gasparini, Giovanni Lulier (c.1662-1700). Roman Handel. Centaur CRC 3246 (1 CD, February 2013). Details. Kristen Watson, soprano. Musicians of the Old Post Road. Includes cantatas by Bononcini, Lulier and Handel (Tu fedel? Tu costante? HWV 171). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Carl Heinrich Graun. Easter Oratorio. cpo (1 CD, March 2013). Michael Alexander Willens, Kölner Akademie. Dagmar Sasková, soprano; Jan Kobow, tenor, Andreas Wolf, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Telemann. Lukas-Passion 1728. cpo (2 CDs, March 2013). Details. Michael Alexander Willens, Kölner Akademie. Marcus Ullmann, tenor; Wolfgang Klose, tenor; Christian Hilz, bass; Raimondis Spogis, bass; Thilo Dahlmann, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Telemann. Cantatas and chamber music with recorder. Brilliant Classics (1 CD, March 2013). Gemma Bertagnolli, soprano. Stefano Bagliano, Collegium Pro Musica. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Francesca Caccini (1587-1640). Maria, dolce Maria - Sacred and secular songs. Brilliant Classics (1 CD, March 2013). Elena Cecchi Fedi, soprano. Gian Luca Lastraioli, Capella di Santa Maria degli Angiolini. US | UK | FR | DE | CA

Zelenka. Guade laetare ZWV 168; Missa Sanctissimae Trinitatis ZWV 17. Nibiru (1 CD, February 2013). Details. Adam Viktora, Ensemble Inégal, Prague Baroque Soloists. Gabriela Elbenová, soprano; Carlos Mena, countertenor; Makuto Sakurada, tenor; Václav Čížek, tenor; Roman Hoza, baritone; Marlán Krejcík, bass; Lisandro Abadie, bass. UK | FR | DE

Charpentier. Judith sive Bethulia liberata (Judith ou Béthulie libérée) H.391 / Caedes Sanctorum Innocentium (Le Massacre des innocents) H.411. K617 242 (1 CD, February 2013). Details. Olivier Schneebeli, Les Pages & Les Chantres du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles. Dagmar Sasková, soprano; Erwin Aros, tenor; Jean-François Novelli, tenor; Arnaud Richard, baritone. UK | FR | DE

Louis Le Prince. Missa "Macula non est in te" (1663). Charpentier. Magnificat. Lully. O Dulcissime Jesu. Glossa (1 CD, April 2013). Hervé Niquet, Le Concert Spirituel. Marie-Pierre Wattiez, soprano. UK | FR | DE

Monteverdi. Selva Morale e Spirituale III. Coro (1 CD, April 2013). Harry Christophers, The Sixteen. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Alessandro Scarlatti. Profano e Sacro - The music of Alessandro Scarlatti. Avanti (1 CD, February 2013). Details / Video. Dominque Corbiau, countertenor. Michel Keustermans, La Cetra d'Orfeo. UK | FR | DE

Sebastián Durón. La Guerra de los Gigantes (Madrid 1702). Pan Classics PC 10276 (1 CD, February 2013). Rogério Gonçalves, A Corte Musical. Júpiter: Eva Juárez, soprano; Hércules: Camilla de Falleiro, soprano; Minervo: Anna Freivogel, mezzo-soprano; Palante: Maria Weiss, mezzo-soprano. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Pasquale Anfossi (1727-1797). La Finta Giardiniera (1774). dhm (2 CDs, March 2013). Werner Ehrhardt, L'Arte del Mondo. Sandrina: Núria Rial, soprano; Arminda: Katja Stuber, soprano; Ramiro: María Espada, soprano; Serpetta: Monika Reinhard, soprano; Belfiore: Krystian Adam, tenor; Nardo: Florian Götz, baritone; Podestà: Miljenko Turk, bass. UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Gottfried Homilius (1714-1785). Markuspassion. Carus (2 CDs, February 2013). Fritz Näf, L'arpa festante, Basler Madrigalisten. Monika Mauch, soprano; Ruth Sandhoff, mezzo-soprano; Hans Jörg Mammel, tenor; Stefan Laske, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Porpora. Cantatas. Accord ACD 1832 (1 CD, January 2013). Artur Stefanowicz, countertenor. Dorota Cybulska-Amsler, Ensemble Club Europa. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel, Mozart, Porpora, Vivaldi. Alleluia. Decca 478 5242 (1 CD, March 2013). Details. Julia Lezhneva, mezzo-soprano. Giovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

François Couperin. Trois Leçons de Ténèbres. Vivat 102 (1 CD, March 2013). Details. Robert King, The King's Consort. Carolyn Sampson, soprano; Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo-soprano. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Fux. Oratorium germanicum de Passione (1731). Pan Classics PC 10284 (1 CD, February 2013). Details. Gunar Letzbor, Ars Antiqua Austria, St. Florianer Sängerknaben. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Johann Philipp Krieger (1649-1725). Musicalischer Seelen-Frieden - Cantatas. Carus (1 CD, February 2013). Dorothee Mields, soprano. Simone Eckert, Hamburger Ratsmusik. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Telemann. Telemannisches Gesangbuch. Carus (1 CD, February 2013). Klaus Mertens, bass-baritone. Thomas Fritzsch, Stefan Maass, Michael Schönheit, Vincent Frisch. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. Hidden Handel. Naïve (1 CD, May 2013). Ann Hallenberg, mezzo-soprano. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. Includes four unknown and unpublished arias, plus others that have remained "hidden" for various reasons. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

William Hayes (1708-1777). Six Cantatas (1748) / Orpheus & Euridice (1735). Glossa (2 CDs, February 2013). Anthony Rooley, The SCB Hayes Players. Evelyn Tubb, soprano; Mirjam Berli, soprano. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

William Hayes (1708-1777). Instrumental and Vocal Music. GEMMA Classical Music Trust (1 CD, January 2013). Details. Evelyn Tubb, soprano. Warwick Cole, Corelli Orchestra. Includes two cantatas, concerti grossi, a harpsichord concerto, and a trio sonata.

J.S. Bach. Ruhm und Glück - Cantatas BWV 66a and 36a (reconstructed). Rondeau (1 CD, February 2013). Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik, Mitteldeutsche Hofmusik. Gudrun Sindonie Otto, soprano; Wiebke Lehmkuhl, contralto; Hans Jörg Mammel, tenor; Carsten Krüger, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

J.S. Bach. Johannes-Passion BWV 245. Linn CKD 419 (2 CDs, March 2013). Details. John Butt, Dunedin Consort. Joanne Lunn, soprano; Claire Wilkinson, mezzo-soprano; Nicholas Mulroy, tenor; Matthew Brook, bass; Robert Davies, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Cavalli, Handel, Monteverdi, Morley, Purcell, Vivaldi. Enchanted Forest. DG-Archiv 0289 479 0077 (1 CD, March 2013). Details. Anna Prohaska, soprano. Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (1657-1714). Süsse Freundschaft, edles Band - Overtures & Arias. Christophorus CHR 77366 (1 CD, January 2013). Miriam Feuersinger, soprano; Franz Vitzthum, countertenor. Peter Barczi, Capricornus Consort Basel. UK | FR | DE

Vivaldi, Caldara, Albinoni, Galuppi. Venezia - Opera Arias. Virgin 4645452 (1 CD, January 2013). Max Emanuel Cencic, countertenor. George Petrou, Orquesta Barocca de Sevilla. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Almost certainly not "Pergolesi". Septem verba a Christo. Harmonia Mundi (1 CD, March 2013). René Jacobs, AKAMUS. Video. Sophie Karthäuser, soprano; Christophe Dumaux, countertenor; Julien Behr, tenor; Konstantin Wolff, bass. Attributed in Pergolesi in 1760, when Pergolesi's music was considerably more valuable than during his brief lifetime. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. Dixit Dominus HWV 232. Vivaldi. Dixit Dominus RV 807, In furore irae RV 626. Harmonia Mundi 807587 (1 CD, April 2013). Lucy Crowe, soprano. David Bates, La Nuova Musica. US | UK | FR | DE | JP

G.A. Perti (1661-1756). Il Mosè conduttor del popolo ebreco (Modena 1685). Tactus TC 661603 (1 CD, January 2013). Details. Maria Luisa Baldassari, Ensemble Les Nations. Mosè: Gloria Banditelli, contralto; Faraone: Marco Bussi, countertenor; Generale di Faraone: Laura Antonaz, soprano; Capo del popolo ebreo: Alberto Allegrezza, tenor; Testo: Elena Biscuola, mezzo-soprano. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Fago, A. & D. Scarlatti, Caresana, Veneziano. Il Tesoro di San Gennaro. Glossa (1 CD, January 2013). Antonio Florio, I Turchini. UK | FR | DE

J.S. Bach. English Suites BWV 806-811. Harmonia Mundi HMU 907591/92 (2 CDs, February 2013). Richard Egarr, harpsichord. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

New Books

Thomas McGeary. The Politics of Opera in Handel's England. Details. Cambridge University Press, April 2013. 418 pages. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Sarah McCleave. Dance in Handel's London Operas. Details. University of Rochester Press, February 2013. 280 pages. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Suzanne Aspden. The Rival Sirens: Performance and Identity on Handel's Operatic Stage. Details. Cambridge University Press, April 2013. 304 pages. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

In the Studio / Forthcoming & Future CDs

Gluck. Forthcoming in 2014. Alan Curtis and Il Complesso Barocco will perform and record two forgotten Gluck operas during the Gluck Tercentenary year.

Vivaldi. L'incoronazione di Dario. (RV 719, Venice 1717). Naïve Vivaldi Edition. Recording in 2013. Ottavio Dantone, Accademia Bizantina. Alinda: Roberta Mameli, soprano; Statira: Renata Pokupic, mezzo-soprano; Argene: Delphine Galou, contralto; Oronte: Franco Fagioli, countertenor; Arpago: Yuryi Minenko, countertenor; Flora: Giuseppina Bridelli, mezzo-soprano; Dario: Anders Dahlin, tenor; Niceno: Riccardo Novaro, baritone.

Vinci. Catone in Utica (Rome 1732). Decca (Forthcoming Spring 2015). Brochure (pdf). Riccardo Minasi, Il Pomo d'Oro. Cesare: Franco Fagioli, countertenor; Catone: Juan Sancho, tenor; Marzia: Valer Barna-Sabadus, countertenor; Fulvio: Vince Yi, countertenor; Emilia: David DQ Lee, countertenor; Arbace: Vasily Khoroshev, countertenor.

Porpora. Germanico in Germania. Decca (Recording June 2014). Brochure (pdf). Alessandro de Marchi, Accademia Montis Regalis. Germanico: Max Emanuel Cencic, countertenor; Arminio: Franco Fagioli, countertenor; Rosmonda: Julia Lezhneva, mezzo-soprano; Cecina: Vince Yi, countertenor; Segeste: Carlo Vincenzo Alemanno, tenor.

Handel. Tamerlano. (HWV 18, London 1724). Decca (October 2013). Brochure (pdf). Riccardo Minasi, Il Pomo d'Oro. Asteria: Karina Gauvin, soprano; Andronico: Max Emanuel Cencic, countertenor; Irene: Ruxandra Donose, mezzo-soprano; Tamerlano: Xavier Sabata, countertenor; Bajazet: John Mark Ainsley, tenor; Leone: Pavel Kudinov, bass.

Reinhard Keiser. Brockes Passion (1712, Copenhagen version 1721). Ramée (2 CDs, forthcoming March, 2013). Details (pdf) / Video. Peter Van Heyghen, Les Muffatti & Vox Luminis. Tochter Zion: Zsuzsi Toth, soprano; Glaubige Seele: Caroline Weynants, soprano; Glaubige Seele / Maria: Sara Jäggi, soprano; Evangelist: Jan van Elsacker, tenor; Petrus / Glaubige Seele: Fernando Guimarães, tenor; Judas: Robert Buckland, tenor; Gläubige Seele: Hugo Oliveira, bass; Jesus: Peter Kooij, bass; Caiphas / Pilatus Hauptmann: Lionel Meunier, bass.

Conti. L'Issipile (1732). To be performed at Wigmore Hall, London on 22 January 2014. David Bates, La Nuova Musica. Lucy Crowe, soprano; Lawrence Zazzo, countertenor; Flavio Ferri-Benedetti, countertenor; John Mark Ainsley, tenor.

Handel. The Triumph of Time and Truth. (HWV 71, London 1757). Delphian. Forthcoming. Richard Neville-Towle, Ludus Baroque. Sophie Bevan, soprano; Mary Bevan, soprano.

Handel. Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. (HWV 72, Rome 1708). Glossa (2 CDs, recorded in July 2012). Fabio Bonizzoni, La Risonanza. Aci: Roberta Invernizzi, soprano; Galatea: Blandine Staskiewicz, mezzo-soprano; Polifemo: Lisandro Abadie, bass.

Telemann. Miriways (Hamburg 1728). cpo. Forthcoming. Details. Michi Gaigg, L'Orfeo Barockorchester. Miriways: Markus Volpert, baritone; Sophi: Ulrike Hofbauer, soprano; Bemira: Julie Martin du Theil, soprano; Nisibis: Gabriele Hierdeis, soprano; Murzah: Stefan Zenkl, baritone; Zemir: Susanne Drexi, mezzo-soprano; Samischa: Ida Adrian, mezzo-soprano.

Gioseffo Zamponi (c.1615-1662). Ulisse nell' Isola de Circé (Brussels 1650). Ricerar (forthcoming 2013). Details / Video. Leonardo García Alarcón, Ensemble Clematis, Cappella Mediterranea, Solistes du Choeur de Chambre de Namur. Circé: Céline Scheen, soprano; Ulisse: Furio Zanasi, baritone; Venere: Mariana Flores, soprano; Argesta: Dominique Visse, countertenor; Euriloco / Tritone / Marte: Fernando Guimarães, tenor; Giove: Matteo Belloto, bass; Mercurio / Apollo: Zachary Wilder, tenor; Satiro: Fabián Schofrin, countertenor; Nettuno: Sergio Foresti, bass.

Hasse. Romolo ed Ersilia. Alpha 186 (forthcoming 2013). Attilio Cremonesi, Café Zimmermann, ChorWerk Ruhr. Romolo: Marina de Liso, mezzo-soprano; Ersilia: Rosanna Savoia, soprano; Valeria: Robin Johannsen, soprano; Ostilio: Netta Or, soprano; Acronte: Paola Gardina, mezzo-soprano; Curzio: Johannes Chum, tenor.

Handel. Serse. (Xerxes). (HWV 40, London 1738). Chandos Chaconne (3 CDs, recorded in August 2012). Christian Curnyn, Early Opera Company. Serse: Anna Stéphany, mezzo-soprano; Atalanta: Joélle Harvey, soprano; Romilda: Rosemary Joshua, soprano; Amastre: Hilary Summers, contralto; Arsamene: David Daniels, countertenor; Elviro: Brindley Sherratt, bass; Ariodate: Brindley Sherratt, bass.

Gluck. Le Cinesi (Serenata, Schlosshof 1754, Vienna 1755). Virgin Classics. Forthcoming. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. Tangia: Ann Hallenberg, mezzo-soprano. Silango: Topi Lehtipuu, tenor. See Heartz, Haydn, Mozart, etc. pp. 152-3 for his translation of Dittersdorf's detailed description of the staging.

Antonio Mazzoni (1717-1785). Antigono (Lisbon 1755). CD & DVD forthcoming. Enrico Onofri, Divino Sospiro. Berenice: Geraldine McGreevy, soprano; Ismene: Ana Quintans, soprano; Demetrio: Pamela Lucciarini, soprano; Clearco: Maria Hinojosa Montenegro, soprano; Alessandro: Martín Oro, countertenor; Antigono: Michael Spyres, tenor. This was the last opera performed in Lisbon before an earthquake and tsunami destroyed the city. Gaetano Guadagni was the original Alessandro. Details on 21-22 January 2012 performances in Lisbon. There is an outstanding recording of Mazzoni's Il Ré Pastore (Aminta) (Madrid 1756) by Juan Bautista Otero et al.

David Pérez (1711-1778). Solimano (Lisbon 1757 & Cádiz 1768). RCOC. Forthcoming. Details (pdf). Juan Bautista Otero, Real Compañía Ópera de Cámara (RCOC). Solimano: Thomas Randall or Anders J. Dahlin, tenor; Perane: Patricia Petibon or Aleksandrina Pendatchanska, soprano; Selimo: Stéphanie d'Oustrac or Monica Bacelli, mezzo-soprano; Barsina: Sunhae Im or Sophie Karthäuser. soprano; Zanghire: Verónica Cangemi, soprano; Osmino: Magnus Staveland, tenor.

Porpora. Gli Orti Esperidi (Naples 1721). RCOC. Forthcoming. Details (pdf). Juan Bautista Otero, Real Compañía Ópera de Cámara (RCOC). Venere: Verónica Cangemi, soprano; Adonis: Sunhae Im, soprano; Marte: Anders J. Dahlin, tenor; Egle: Barbara Staskiewicz, mezzo-soprano; Palemone: Robin Johannsen, soprano.

Alessandro Scarlatti. Penelope La Casta (Naples 1696). Forthcoming. Details (pdf). Wolfgang Katschner, Lautten Compagney. Penelope: Dorothee Mields, soprano; Ulisse: Kobie van Rensburg, tenor; Elvida: Cécile van de Sant, mezzo-soprano; Lutezio: Owen Willetts, countertenor; Gismondo: Yosemeh Adjei, countertenor; Orimante: James Elliott, tenor; Gildo: Florian Götz, baritone; Arienne: Bele Kumberger, soprano; Matteo Sassano: Henning Kaiser, tenor.

Alessandro Scarlatti. Didone delirante (Naples 1696). Forthcoming. Details. Wolfgang Katschner, Lautten Compagney. Enea: Anne Dietzmann, mezzo-soprano; Acate: Anne Schneider, soprano; Didone: Olivia Vermeulen, mezzo-soprano; Anna: Katharina Boschmann, soprano; Frullo: Matthias Vieweg, bass; Creuso: Yosemeh Adjel, countertenor; Sicambre: Susanne Langbein, soprano.

Alessandro Scarlatti. Carlo, rè d'Allemagna (Naples 1716). Forthcoming. Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante. Magnus Staveland, baritone. Review by Carlo Vitale of a 2003 performance.

Hasse. Marc'Antonio e Cleopatra. Forthcoming. Claudio Osele, Le Musiche Nove. Cleopatra: Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli, soprano; Marc'Antonio: Vivica Genaux, mezzo-soprano.

Handel. Acis & Galatea (Expanded English/Italian version, HWV 49b, London 1732). In the planning stages. Acis (originally Senesino): Lawrence Zazzo, countertenor.

Handel. Agrippina. (HWV 6, Venice 1709-10). Naïve. Forthcoming. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. Joyce DiDonato, Maite Beaumont, Karina Gauvin, Pallante: Johannes Meisser, baritone.

Handel. Arianna in Creta. (HWV 32, London 1734). Naïve. Forthcoming. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco Arianna: , soprano; Teseo: Ann Hallenberg, mezzo-soprano; Carilda: , soprano; Tauride: , mezzo-soprano; Alceste: , soprano; Minos: Johannes Meisser, baritone.

Handel. Giulio Cesare in Egitto. (HWV 17, London 1724). Decca. Forthcoming. Giovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico. Giulio Cesare: Andreas Scholl, countertenor; Cleopatra: Cecilia Bartoli, soprano; Cornelia: Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano.

Vivaldi. Catone in Utica. (RV 705, Verona 1737). Naïve. Forthcoming. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco.

G.B. Bononcini (1670-1747). Astianatte (London 1727). Naïve. Forthcoming. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. This is the opera in which the two prima donnas, Cuzzoni and Faustina, fought on stage.

Francesco Maria Veracini. Adriano in Siria (Opera of the Nobility, London 1735). Details. No information whether a commercial recording will be released, but at least there will be a radio broadcast. Krakow, 12 December 2013 & 18 January 2014. Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante. Adriano: Romina Basso, contralto; Farnaspe: Ann Hallenberg, mezzo-soprano; Emirena: Roberta Invernizzi, soprano; Sabina: Sonia Prina, contralto; Idalma: Lucia Cirillo, mezzo-soprano; Osroa: Ugo Guagliardo, bass.

Alessandro Melani. Gli Amori di Lidia e di Clori (1682). Chandos Chaconne (4 CDs, 2013?). Estevan Velardi, Alessandro Stradella Consort. Clori: Anna Chierichetti, soprano; Lidia: Lavinia Bertotti, soprano; Eurillo: Gianluca Belfiori Doro, countertenor; Rosauro: Gianluca Buratto, bass.

Alessandro Stradella. Doriclea (1686). (4 CDs, forthcoming 2014?). Estevan Velardi, Alessandro Stradella Consort. Rosita Frisani, soprano; Cristina Jannicola, mezzo-soprano; Linda Campanella, soprano; Gianluca Belfiori Doro, countertenor; Carlo Putelli, tenor; Vito Priante, bass.

Forthcoming Books

Donald Burrows, Helen Coffey, John Greenacombe & Anthony Hicks (eds). G.F. Handel: The Collected Documents. Details.
Volume 1: 1609-1725. Details. Cambridge University Press (September 2013). 750 pages. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Volume 2: 1725-1734. Details. Cambridge University Press(November 2013). 750 pages. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Recommended Interviews from Goldberg

Vincent Dumestre by Yutha Tep, Issue 37.

Martin Gester by Brian Robins, Issue 36.

Sigiswald Kuijken by Brian Robins, Issue 34, in which he discusses the violoncello da spalla and holeless natural trumpet, among other matters.

Christophe Rousset by Brian Robins, Issue 33.

Also:

Jean-François Madeuf by Jeffrey Nussbaum on the Historic Brass Society website (2006). J-FM: "I never play [natural trumpet] with holes. I only did that when I was learning this very difficult (but so wonderful) instrument."

Early Music World - new website by Brian Robins

A note about web browsers.

OT: Firefox users: Smooth scrolling, autoscrolling and hardware acceleration, which can cause momentary freezes, are on by default in the latest release. To turn them off: Tools>>Options>>Advanced>>General.

ORF and Philips included opera libretto files on multi-session CDs, a now obsolete technology. The non-audio files can't be opened in Windows 7 x64 Explorer, but you can open and extract them with the free version of IsoBuster.

"If one is to believe the historians of the seventeenth century, stage directors did not yet exist. What a fortunate age! One could attend an opera without having to close one's eyes. One could take delight in it, listen to it and watch it at the same time, without feeling welling up within oneself, scene by scene, crescendo, rinforzando, that dull anger which is very bad for one's peace of mind." Philippe Beaussant (La Monde de la Musique, April 2005), English translation in "Vivaldi in Scena: Thoughts on the Revival of Vivaldi's Operas" by Frédéric Delaméa in Vivaldi, Motezuma and the Opera Seria, Michael Talbot (ed.) at 171-2 (Brepols 2008).

I'm still waiting for even one of the many conductors of baroque Italian opera performances with organ, guitar, or harp continuo to cite one solitary source in support of an obnoxious fad. At one time, scholars were prominent in the historical performance movement, but increasingly they have been replaced by copycats and greedy salesmen.

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