Rinaldo – Live Recording

Opera Seria in Three Acts

Libretto by Giacomo Rossi, based on a screenplay by Aaron Hill,
from La Gerusalemme liberata by Torquato Tasso (1544-1595).

Critical edition by Bernardo Ticci.
Dramaturgical revision by Ottavio Dantone.

First performance HWV 7a: London, Queen’s Theatre, Febrauary 2nd, 1711
First performance HWV 7b: London, King’s Theatre, April 6th, 1731

Buy on HDBsonus.it

Details:

Cast:

Delphine Galou, alt Rinaldo
Francesca Aspromonte*, soprano Almirena
Anna Maria Sarra, soprano Armida
Raffaele Pe, countenor Goffredo
Luigi De Donato, bass Argante
Federico Benetti, bass Mago cristiano
Anna Bessi, mezzosoprano Donna

*Francesca Aspromonte appears courtesy of PENTATONE

ACCADEMIA BIZANTINA
OTTAVIO DANTONE, harpsichord and conductor

Ottavio Dantone leads Accademia Bizantina and a top-level cast in the new production of one of Händel‘s most important works, the composer’s operatic debut in the UK and the first Italian opera ever written for London: Rinaldo.

The plots, magic and charm of 18th century theatre come alive today, bringing us back to the fervour of the London of the time.

A real gateway to the golden age of Baroque theatre, with attention to the rules and conventions that underpin the drama for music.

Double CD, live recording, booklet 128 pages.

Reviews:

Nelle vesti di direttore, Dantone riesce a rendere ragione della straordinaria ricchezza della partitura sia sul versante del suo innegabile senso drammatico che su quello del colore da conferire alle arie – sovente bellissime – e tutte dotate di vivo spessore teatrale.

La orquesta está tan rutilante como siempre, con un extraordinario Alessandro Tampieri como concertino. Perfecto el bajo continuo, donde destaca la minuciosa labor en el clave de Stefano Demicheli, tantas veces asistente de Dantone, quien aquí vuelve a dar una lección magistral de cómo se dirige una ópera.

Dantone encourages both his cast and his ensemble to give us a dramatically engaged performance. Whatever worries about details, this is the sort of Handel operatic performance which whisks you along with its combination of music and drama.