Search - Sonia Prina, Kate Royal, Camilla Tilling :: Handel: La Resurrezione

Spectacular Recording

Classics Lover | 11/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Emmanuelle Haim shines in this recording of one of the most colorful works from Handel. She has a great understanding of the relationship between sense and sensuality in Handel - I think she's one of his finest interpreters. Her voice has so much immediacy and expression. Haim is wonderfully supported by the ensemble of singers. People rarely give ensembles props for what they do, but in this recording, the ensemble was technically and stylistically at the peak of today's Handel interpretation. I also think it was from the help of Haim that ignited them to perform with such power and emotion without running wild."

Expressiveness should not trump musicianship

Sr Calzabigi | Seattle, WA United States | 02/05/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a little surprised and puzzled by the unqualified praise this disc has received from all quarters.

I count myself as a huge Handel fan and was thrilled by this release, since La Resurrezione is a piece that deserves to be better known. I am in general a supporter of the fresh pespective the historically informed performance movement has brought to this repertoire.

But this performance is one big hot mess.

There's no question that there's a great deal of frenzied passion and emoting going on, and those who favor histrionics at the expense of pitch and rhythm may welcome this interpretation.

Without question, there is a great deal of drama in this music, but for my money, a bit more poised vocalism would have been a lot more expressive. To my ear, the performers approach this piece as if it were verismo opera.

The fact that this is a live performance does not excuse the sloppiness of execution at play here.

About one in every three notes is in tune. When a clear beat is given (not always the case), the singers are behind it. Not one of them has an evenly produced vocal technique. They sound like talented conservatory students, and not finished singers. I do hate to be sharky, but the standard should be higher for performers at this stage of their profession.

The instrumental musicians all perform admirably, but Haim drives her forces as if to suggest that sheer muscle excuses everything. Maybe, just maybe, this approach worked in the accoustic of the live performance, but it does not translate successfully as a pure listening experience.

This is a great piece of music. Any of the other recordings are better.

"