George Frideric Handel – Marian Cantatas & Arias (1994)

1) Haec est Regina virginum [4:45]
   Ah! che troppo ineguali HWV 230
2) Recitativo: "Ah! che troppo ineguali" [1:02]
3) Aria / Adagio: "O del ciel Maria regina" [9:20]
   Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233
4) Introduzione [4:09]
5) (Recitativo:) "Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi" [1:01]
6) (Aria:) "Vacillò, per terror del primo errore" [6:00]
7) (Recitativo accompagnato:) "Torna immobile in grembo" [1:43]
8) (Aria) Adagio: "Tu sei la bella serena stella" [8:13]
9) (Recitativo:) "Pur nella via che resta" [0:37]
10) (Aria) Allegro: "Sorga pure dall'orrido averno" [2:39]
11) (Recitativo:) "Dunque a te diamo lodi" [0:42]
12 (Aria con coro:) "Maria, salute e speme" [4:42]
    Il pianto di Maria: "Giunta l'ora fatal" HWV 234
13) (Recitativo:) "Giunta l'ora fatal dal ciel prescritta" [2:08]
14) Cavatina: "Se d'un Dio fui fatta Madre" [3:35]
15) (Recitativo accopmpagnato:) "Ah me infelice!" & Cavatina da capo [5:37]
16) (Recitativo:) "Ahimè ch'Egli già esclama ad alta voce" [1:09]
17) (Aria:) "Sventurati miei sospiri" [7:26]
18) (Recitativo accompagnato:) "Sì disse la gran Madre" [2:14]
19) (Aria:) "Pari all'amor immenso" [8:09]
20) (Recitativo accompagnato:) "Or se per grande orror tremò la terra" [0:53]

Anne Sophie von Otter
Musica Antiqua Koln
Reinhardt Goebel - conductor

This is one of my desert island discs! It deserves a classical status among the recordings of Handel's music. But not only Handel's: the longest work on this CD, a magnificent cantata previously attributed to Handel ("Giunta l'ora fatal"), has been written by Giovanni Battista Ferrandini, an Italian composer at the court of Munich. Ferrandini has been identified as a composer of this work quite recently (the booklet refers to a publication from 1994, where the details of the discovery are presented). As Reinhard Goebel writes in his notes for the booklet, the "chain of evidence... is convincing - and needs to be, because Ferrandini's other known works are no more than mediocre" (p. 8). This cantata is certainly not a mediocre work and the fact that it had been misattributed to Handel tells a lot about its qualities. The disc contains three works by Handel, a cantata "Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi" being the longest and most impressive one. Its 'da capo' aria "Tu sei la bella serena stella" will melt anybody's heart: I have always wondered why it isn't better known. It is such a beautiful song. I cannot find adequate words of praise for Anne Sofie von Otter's singing! This CD, bought years ago, was my first real encouter with von Otter's art and a real eye - or ear - opener (I bought it for Handel and ... a beautiful cover featuring magnificent Madonna by Piero della Francesca). If you know her last year's "Lamenti", this earlier (1994) release - also made with Musica Antiqua Koeln under R. Goebel - is a must: these both records go wonderfully together. For many, this CD's main attraction will be its rarely performed music (as it was for me), music that certainly is worth exploring. An outstanding release in every respect! A real treasure... ---Izolda, amazon.com

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