Atto Terzo, Scena 5: La Memoria Dei Tormenti - Coro
Riccardo Primo, ré d'Inghilterra is based on an historic event, the marriage of Richard Lionheart to Princess Berengaria of Navarre, on Cyprus during the Third Crusade--but from there it spins off into fantasy. Much... more » of this music will sound vaguely familiar--Handel was a pioneer of recycling. There is fine singing here from Sara Mingardo as the title character, the Costanza of Sandrine Piau and Claire Brua as Pulcheria; the last sounds very mezzo-like in her vocal color, her billing as a soprano notwithstanding. Roberto Scaltriti's dark bass-baritone is a joy to hear, but countertenor Pascal Bertin is very hard on the ear when he sings a long aria--and they're all long. Conductor Christophe Rousset leads his forces idiomatically and with splendid verve. --Sarah Bryan Miller« less
Riccardo Primo, ré d'Inghilterra is based on an historic event, the marriage of Richard Lionheart to Princess Berengaria of Navarre, on Cyprus during the Third Crusade--but from there it spins off into fantasy. Much of this music will sound vaguely familiar--Handel was a pioneer of recycling. There is fine singing here from Sara Mingardo as the title character, the Costanza of Sandrine Piau and Claire Brua as Pulcheria; the last sounds very mezzo-like in her vocal color, her billing as a soprano notwithstanding. Roberto Scaltriti's dark bass-baritone is a joy to hear, but countertenor Pascal Bertin is very hard on the ear when he sings a long aria--and they're all long. Conductor Christophe Rousset leads his forces idiomatically and with splendid verve. --Sarah Bryan Miller
"After hearing and studying this opera, I am at a loss of words. The fact that this opera, and particularly this recording, has been out of print for so long is a crime against the humanities. This is a first rate Handel opera. Every note is a masterpiece.
The performance under Christophe Rousset is brilliant. Recording quality is excellent. The soloists are an all star cast that live up to their reputations.
Just listen to the duet "T'amo, Si!" with Sara Mingardo and Sandrine Piau ending act 2. This music is superhuman in beauty and the singing is unreal.
A new recording of Riccardo Primo is scheduled for release soon with Paul Goodwin. The Rousset version will be difficult to top."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1
