Handel: Serse Stéphany, Joshua, Daniels, Summers, Harvey, Sherratt, Wolf, Early Opera Company & Christian Curnyn

• George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759): Serse, HWV 40:
• 1Handel: Serse, HWV 40: No. 1, Overture05:33
• Serse, HWV 40, Act I:
• 2Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 2, Accompagnato. Frondi tenere, e belle (Serse)00:42
• 3Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 3, Aria "Ombra mai fu" (Serse)02:22
• 4Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 4, Recitativo "Siam giunti, Elviro…" (Arsamene)00:22
• 5Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 5, Sinfonia e Recitativo "Sento un soave concento". Larghetto (Arsamene)01:50
• 6Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 6, Aria "O voi…". Larghetto (Romilda)02:06
• 7Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 7, Recitativo "Arsamene" (Serse)00:20
• 8Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 8, Aria "Và godendo vezzoso e bello" (Romilda)02:11
• 9Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 9, Recitativo "Quel canto a un bell' amor l'anima sforza" (Serse)01:13
• 10Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 10, Aria "Io le dirò che l'amo" Andante (Serse)03:06
• 11Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 11, Recitativo "Arsamene" (Romilda)01:02
• 12Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 12, Aria "Si, si, mio ben, si, si" Larghetto (Atalanta)02:22
• 13Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 13, Recitativo "Presto, Signor, vien Serse" (Elviro)01:11
• 14Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 14, Aria "Meglio in voi col mio partire" Andante (Arsamene)02:05
• 15Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 15, Recitativo "Bellissima Romilda, eh, non celate" (Serse)00:27
• 16Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 16, Aria "Di tacere e di schernirmi" Andante (Serse)01:56
• 17Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 17, Recitativo "Aspide sono a" detti tuoi d"amore" (Romilda)00:16
• 18Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 18, Aria "Nemmen coll'ombre d'infedeltà" (Romilda)02:31
• 19Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 19, Aria "Se cangio spoglia" Allegro (Amastre)01:41
• 20Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 20, Recitativo "Pugnammo, amici, e stette"(Ariodate)00:19
• 21Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 21, Coro "Già la tromba" (Soldati)00:38
• 22Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 22, Recitativo "Ecco Serse, oh che volto, oh che splendore!" (Amastre)00:53
• 23Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 23, Aria "Soggetti al mio volere" Andante (Ariodate)01:48
• 24Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 24, Coro "Già la tromba" (Soldati)00:40
• 25Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 25, Recitativo "Queste vittorie, io credo" (Serse)01:28
• 26Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 26, Aria "Più che penso alle fiamme del core" Andante (Serse)08:36
• 27Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 27, Recitativo "Eccoti il foglio, Elviro" (Arsamene)00:32
• 28Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 28, Arioso "Signor, Signor, lasciate fare a me" Allegro (Elviro)00:32
• 29Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 29, Aria "Non so se sia la speme" Larghetto (Arsamene)04:12
• 30Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 30, Recitativo "Tradir di regia sposa" (Amastre)00:17
• 31Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 31, Aria "Saprà delle mie offese" Allegro (Amastre)04:28
• 32Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 32, Recitativo "Al fin sarete sposa al vostro Serse" (Atalanta)01:01
• 33Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 33, Aria "Se l'idol mio" Allegro (Romilda)04:06
• 34Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 34, Recitativo "Per rapir quel tesore" (Atalanta)00:16
• 35Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act I: No. 35, Aria "Un cenno leggiadretto" Allegro (Atalanta)03:39
• Serse, HWV 40, Act II:
• 36Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 36, Arioso "Speranze mie fermate" Larghetto (Amastre)00:41
• 37Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 37, Arioso "Ah, chi voler fiora di bella giardina" (Elviro)00:40
• 38Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 38, Recitativo "E chi direbbe mai ch'io sono Elviro?" (Elviro)02:25
• 39Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 39, Aria "Or che siete, speranze, tradite" Allegro (Amastre)02:29
• 40Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 40, Recitativo "Quel curioso è partito, oh! che indiscreto!" (Elviro)00:23
• 41Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 41, Arioso e Recitativo "A piangere ogn'ora" Largo (Atalanta)01:17
• 42Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 42, Arioso "Ah, tigre infedele!" Allegro (Elviro)00:14
• 43Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 43, Recitativo "Parti, il re s'avvicina" (Atalanta)00:17
• 44Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 44, Arioso "È tormento troppo fiero" Largo (Serse)01:04
• 45Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 45, Recitativo "Di quel foglio, Atalanta" (Serse)01:06
• 46Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 46, Aria "Dirà che amor per me" Andante allegro (Atalanta)01:32
• 47Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 47, Recitativo "Voi quel foglio lasciate a me per prova" (Serse)00:10
• 48Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 48, Aria "Dirà che non m'amò". Andante allegro (Atalanta)01:44
• 49Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 49, Recitativo "Ingannata Romilda!" (Serse)00:32
• 50Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 50, Duettino "L'amerete?" - "L'amerò" (Serse e Romilda)00:54
• 51Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 51, Aria "Se bramate d'amar chi vi sdegna" Allegro (Serse)05:53
• 52Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 52, Accompagnato "L'amerò? Non fia vero" (Romilda)00:56
• 53Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 53, Aria "È gelosia" Andante (Romilda)02:41
• 54Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 54, Recitativo "Giacché il duol non m'uccide" (Amastre)00:26
• 55Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 55, Aria "Anima infida" Allegro (Amastre)01:40
• 56Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 56, Recitativo "È pazzo affé" (Elviro)00:45
• 57Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 57, Aria "Quella che tutta fé" Largo (Arsamene)03:35
• 58Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 58, Coro "La virtute sol potea" (Marinari)00:23
• 59Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 59, Recitativo "Ariodate" (Serse)00:32
• 60Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 60, Coro "La virtute sol potea" (Marinari)00:26
• 61Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 61, Arioso "Per dar fine alla mia pena". Larghetto (Arsamene)01:01
• 62Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 62, Recitativo "Arsamene, over andate?" (Serse)01:15
• 63Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 63, Aria "Si, la voglio e l'otterrò!". Allegro (Arsamene)02:33
• 64Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 64, Recitativo "V'inchino, eccelso Re" (Atalanta)00:22
• 65Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 65, Aria "Voi mi dite che non l'ami" (Atalanta)02:57
• 66Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 66, Recitativo "Saria lieve ogni doglia" (Serse)00:17
• 67Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 67, Aria "Il core spera e teme" Andante larghetto (Serse)05:54
• 68Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 68, Accompagnato "Me infelice, ho smarrito il mio padrone!" (Elviro)00:58
• 69Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 69, Aria "Del mio caro Bacco amabile" Allegro (Elviro)01:17
• 70Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 70, Duettino "Gran pena è gelosia!" (Serse ed Amastre)01:35
• 71Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 71, Recitativo "Aspra sorte!" (Serse)00:58
• 72Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 72, Aria "Val più contento core" Allegro (Romilda)01:56
• 73Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 73, Recitativo "Vuò ch'abbian fine ai miei dolori immensi" (Serse)01:12
• 74Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act II: No. 74, Aria "Chi cede al furore" Allegro (Romilda)05:07
• Serse, HWV 40, Act III:
• 75Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 75, Sinfonia. Andante02:47
• 76Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 76, Recitativo "Sono vani i pretesti…" (Arsamene)01:33
• 77Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 77, Aria "No, no, se tu mi sprezzi" Andante allegro (Atalanta)01:02
• 78Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 78, Recitativo. "Ecco in segno di fé la destra amica" (Romilda)01:18
• 79Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 79, Aria "Per rendermi beato" Andante (Serse)03:27
• 80Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 80, Recitativo "Ubbidirò il mio re?" (Arsamene)00:57
• 81Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 81, Aria "Amore, tiranno Amor" Larghetto (Arsamene)03:45
• 82Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 82, Recitativo "Come già vi accennammo" (Serse)00:41
• 83Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 83, Aria "Del Ciel d'amore" Andante allegro (Ariodate)02:20
• 84Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 84, Recitativo "Il suo serto rifiuto" (Romilda)02:57
• 85Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 85, Aria "Cagion son io" Andante (Amastre)02:31
• 86Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 86, Recitativo "Romilda infida, e di me pensa ancora?" (Arsamene)00:19
• 87Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 87, Duetto "Troppo oltraggi la mia fede" (Romilda and Arsamene)02:37
• 88Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 88, Coro "Ciò che Giove destinò" (Ministri)00:36
• 89Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 89, Recitativo "Ecco lo sposo! Io ben ne fui presago" (Ariodate)01:06
• 90Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 90, Coro "Chi infelice si trovò" (Ministri)00:24
• 91Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 91, Recitativo "Se ne viene Ariodate. È tempo omai" (Serse)01:56
• 92Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 92, Aria "Crude furie degl'orridi abissi" Allegro (Serse)03:29
• 93Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 93, Recitativo "Perfidi! E ancor osate" (Serse)01:54
• 94Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act III: No. 94, Aria e Coro "Caro voi siete all'alma" Andante (Romilda)03:43
• Total Runtime02:46:10

Info for Handel: Serse

Obwohl sie mit 'Ombra mai fu' (besser bekannt als 'Largo') eine der schönsten und bekanntesten Händel-Melodien überhaupt enthält, ist die 1738 am King's Theatre in London uraufgeführte Oper Serse bislang vergleichsweise selten eingespielt worden. Dabei bietet das streckenweise sehr ironisch gehaltene Libretto eine Menge komische Situationen und jede Menge schöner Arien. Der ausgewiesene Händel-Experte Christian Curnyn und seine Early Opera Company legen auf CHANDOS nun eine herausragende Einspielung der Oper vor (immerhin die erste seit zehn Jahren!), welche die gesamte Händel-Diskographie bereichert.

"[Stéphany's] is a stunning central performance, comfortably matched by incisive playing from the Early Opera Company orchestra. Sopranos Rosemary Joshua (as Romilda) and Joelle Harvey (Atalanta) melt and sparkle to order, accompanied by fluttering recorders." (BBC Music Magazine)

"an extremely classy account...Stéphany can compete with the best of today’s mezzos: she combines feeling, dignity, elegance...this really is a baroque vocal feast...Curnyn shows such an easy command of the idiom: there is no aggressive accenting or exaggeration of tempo." (Financial Times)

"Stephany sings superbly...Joshua far eclipses her counterparts on the rival recordings, singing with sweet, sensuous tone and characterising deftly...Summers suggests the pathos as well as the outrage of Serse's wrong fiancee Amastre...this beautifully recorded new version is the one to go for." 8Gramophone Magazine)

"Stéphany does a good job with the unstable Xerxes, snapping between sentimentality and psychopathy, and sings the part forcefully and with character...Curnyn conducts with spirit, though things flag a bit at the beginning of Act 3." (Opera Now)

Anna Stéphany, Mezzosopranistin
David Daniels, Counter-Tenor
Hilary Summers, Altistin
Brindly Sheratt, Bass
Rosemary Joshua, Sopranistin
Joélle Harvey, Sopranistin
Andreas Wolf, Bass-Bariton
Early Opera Ensemble
Christian Curnyn, Dirigent

Anna Stéphany
stammt aus England und studierte Gesang u. a. an der Londoner Guildhall School of Music and Drama sowie im Londoner National Opera Studio. Von 2012 bis 2015 war sie Ensemblemitglied am Opernhaus Zürich, wo sie Partien wie Cherubino (Le nozze die Figaro), Nicklausse (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) und Minerva (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria) sang. Ihr Repertoire umfasst zudem Partien wie Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) sowie die Titelpartie in Charpentiers Médée. Sie gastierte u. a. am Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, am Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, am Bolschoi-Theater in Moskau sowie bei den Festspielen in Aix-en-Provence. 2017 war sie beim Glyndebourne Festival und den BBC Proms als Sesto (La clemenza di Tito) zu erleben.

Christian Curnyn
Der britische Dirigent und Cembalist Christian Curnyn ist einer der meistgefragten Dirigenten des barocken Opernrepertoires. Er studierte Musik an der University of York und Cembalo an der Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. 1994 gründete er die Early Opera Company. Zu den frühen Händel-Aufführungen gehören Ariodante für das BOC Covent Garden Festival sowie Orlando beim South Bank Centre Early Music Festival.

2005 gab er sein Debüt an der Scottish Opera als Dirigent von Semele, 2006 folgte Tamerlano. Mehrfach trat er bei den Händel Festspielen in Halle auf, 2008 auch in Karlsruhe mit Susanna. An der English National Opera debütierte er im gleichen Jahr mit einer Neuproduktion von Händels Partenope, 2010 am Chicago Opera Theater mit Cavallis Giasone. Zu seinen jüngsten Gastengagements gehören Opera Australia und die San Francisco Opera (Partenope), die Oper Frankfurt (Cavallis La Calisto), Komische Oper Berlin (Rameaus Castor et Pollux) sowie das Royal Opera House in London (Monteverdis Orfeo und Cavallis LʼOrmindo). Nach seinem Debüt mit Platée übernahm er 2015/16 an der Oper Stuttgart die musikalische Leitung bei der Neuinszenierung von The Fairy Queen.

Für Konzertdirigate gastierte er beim Ulster Orchestra und Hallé Orchestra, beim Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, bei The English Concert, beim Irish Baroque Orchestra und beim Scottish Chamber Orchestra für eine Tournee mit Nicola Benedetti gefolgt von einer Einspielung bei Decca. Zahlreiche weitere Aufnahmen liegen vor, außerdem wurde er mehrfach für seine Arbeit ausgezeichnet, zuletzt mit dem BBC Music Magazine Award 2013.

Booklet for Handel: Serse