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Serse (Xerxes)
By George Frideric Handel (Georg Friedrich Händel)
Score
Handel, Serse - Chrysander (HG) score (pdf)
Recordings
| 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. |
 Handel.
Serse. (Xerxes). (HWV 40, London 1738). Virgin Veritas
5457112 (3 CDs, September 2004).
Libretto online. See
my
comments comparing the Christie and McGegan recordings.
William Christie, Les Arts Florissants. Serse: Anne Sofie von
Otter, mezzo-soprano; Atalanta: Sandrine Piau, soprano; Romilda:
Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, soprano; Amastre: Silvia Tro Santafé,
mezzo-soprano; Arsamene: Lawrence Zazzo, countertenor; Elviro:
Antonio Abete, baritone; Ariodate: Giovanni Furlanetto, bass.
Get this one for von Otter. In most other respects, McGegan's
recording is more satisfying.
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 Handel.
Serse. (Xerxes). (HWV 40, London 1738). Conifer Classics
75605 51312 2 (3 CDs 1998). Nicholas McGegan, The Hanover Band.
Serse: Judith Malafronte, contralto; Romilda: Jennifer Smith,
soprano; Atalanta: Lisa Milne, soprano; Amastre: Susan Bickley,
mezzo-soprano; Arsamene: Brian Asawa, countertenor; Elviro:
David Thomas, bass; Ariodante: Dean Ely, bass. Fine performance
of an opera that was quite unlike others of its time.
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| Handel. Serse. (HWV 40, London 1738). Mondo Musica MMH 80089 (Recorded in 1997, release date unknown, if ever.) Hans-Martin Linde, Händelfestspielorchester des Opernhauses Halle. Serse: Lynda Lee; Romilda: Julia Gooding; Atalanta: Martina Rüping; Amastre: Gabriele Erhard; Arsamene: Axel Köhler; Elviro: Ulrich Studer; Ariodate: David Stephenson. |
Related Operas
Giovanni Bononcini. Xerse (Rome 1694). Libretto by Silvio Stampiglia.
References
Winton Dean. Handel's Operas, 1726-1741 (Boydell Press 2006).
R. Strohm, "Handel and his Italian opera texts." Essays on Handel and the Italian Opera. (Oxford University Press 1985).
Harold S. Powers. "Il 'Serse' transformato." Musical Quarterly 47: 481-492 (1961) & 48: 73-92 (1962).
 Winton
Dean, "Handel's Serse" in Thomas Bauman & Marita Petzoldt
McClymonds (eds.) Opera and the Enlightenment. Cambridge
University Press 1995.
Details.
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