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Handel - Alcina ~ Arias from Giulio Cesare / Sutherland, Berganza, Freni, Sinclair, Horne, Bonynge
Handel, Sutherland, Berganza
Handel - Alcina ~ Arias from Giulio Cesare / Sutherland, Berganza, Freni, Sinclair, Horne, Bonynge
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (20) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (17) - Disc #3


     
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CD Details

All Artists: Handel, Sutherland, Berganza, Lso, Bonynge
Title: Handel - Alcina ~ Arias from Giulio Cesare / Sutherland, Berganza, Freni, Sinclair, Horne, Bonynge
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Decca Import
Original Release Date: 1/1/1992
Re-Release Date: 10/1/1992
Album Type: Import
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750)
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPC: 028943372329

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CD Reviews

Baroque Opera at its Finest
B. J. Miceli | Boston, MA United States | 07/28/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having heard this recording probably 100 times, I can confidently recommend it to anyone interested in hearing Sutherland in the role which earned her the sobriquet "La Stupenda" from Italian audiences in the 1960's. Her voice is astonishingly powerful and agile. Furthermore, Sutherland's natural grandeur and command make the sorceress Alcina appropriately larger than life. Importantly, she and the rest of the cast sing out in vivid, colorful voices far removed from the anemic "period" sound heard so often today. Granted, the score is cut and Renee Fleming also sings a glamourous and gorgeous Alcina (complete) on CD, but her liberal use of portamento and rubato and her fruity vibrato are more appropriate to Bellini than Handel (but the smudgy coloratura is wrong for both!). By contrast, Sutherland avoids these devices, singing with real Baroque style (even if her diction is a little muddy at times!)which balances Italianate warmth with technical precision. This is one of Sutherland's best recordings and serves Handel's music well."
Ravishing tones and singing
B. J. Miceli | 07/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The magnitude of singing in this Alcina is second to none. The Joan Sutherland here is a young one. And we all know her what a phenomenal singer she was before Esclamonde(1974) destroyed her voice. Here, in 1960 something, it is the most glowing, sumptuous, just simply gorgeous soprano to ever come out of a person's mouth. It is as silvery and clear as it can be. And the squillo is in full force.
Yep, it's all here, the amazing coloratura, the celebrated upper register to the full voice high E, and the awesome accuracy of pitch. No wonder they call her the "Voice of the Century".
Freni is here, and she is lovely. I bet you've never heard her sound like that. She's no Sutherland. But she's definitely at least as good a lyric soprano as Price or Caballe.
A greatly underrated recording. The music is glorious. In my opinion, it is as good as the other great Handel opera Julius Caesar. I hope I spelled it right. If you love Baroque, it doesn't get any better than this."
Beautiful
B. J. Miceli | 12/31/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"A stellar cast heading by the supreme artist, Joan Sutherland. She had, indeed, the most beautiful soprano during her youth. With a supporting cast such as this, how can this Alcina lose? Of these great artists, next to Sutherland, Freni is the most lovely. All in all, fantastic singing of some of the most beautiful music that Handel ever wrote."