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Handel - Serse (Brian Priestman, Maureen Forrester, Lucia Popp) [2009]

Posted By: Sowulo

Date: 1 Jul 2016 05:36:22

This is, quite simply, one of the most splendid Handel opera recordings ever made. We owe a debt of gratitude to DG/Universal for reissuing this much-admired Westminster recording from 1965. The opera itself is one of Handel's finest; a late work magically integrating farce and pathos, and filled with an abundance of brilliant invention remarkable even for Handel. Priestman does full justice to the kaleidoscopic shifts of mood, affect, idiom and orchestration that makes this work a viable musical entertainment today no less than in 1738. Though Priestman's Viennese forces play modern instruments, the conductor obviously has a solid understanding of Baroque performance practice (according to the musicological priorities of his day). Ornaments are generously supplied and correctly executed; rhythms are fetchingly sprung; phrasing and articulation nimbly turn all of the corners of Handel's often unpredictable musical argument; tempos are upbeat, and the harpsichord continuo is imaginatively (if rather busily) realized by Martin Isepp. The orchestral ensemble is simply splendid: I wouldn't be surprised if members of the VPO were moonlighting on this occasion.

All the excellences of orchestral execution, however, would not amount to much if the singing were below par. But there need be no worries on that score. The cast is uniformly outstanding; indeed, one of the finest ever assembled for a non-PPP Handel opera recording–superior even to the Sutherland/Bonynge *Alcina* on Decca. These are, of course, modern operatic voices, and some listeners may resist their refulgent tone, smooth legato phrasing, and ample if seldom obtrusive vibrato. But how can you go wrong with the likes of Maureen Forrester, Lucia Popp, Maureen Lehane Mildred Miller in the principal roles? Forrester's contribution alone is worth the price of admission: this is not only gorgeous vocalism but supremely idiomatic Handel singing (to rival the achievement of Marilyn Horne in this composer). The two male members of the cast, Owen Brannigan and Thomas Hemsley, are also veteran Handel singers and give sympatheic accounts of their respective roles. Some of my readers may disagree with my assessment on principle, preferring the lighter and "whiter" voices of today's "early music" scene; nor would I object to this preference, given the many fine singers currently doing Handel opera (I own numerous recordings by the likes of Curtis, Christie, Minkowski, McGegan and others whose casts are usually strong ones–if not quite up to the almost unapproachable standard set by Priestman's *Serse*).

The original recording was, if I recall, well engineered, despite pressings of characteristically variable quality (as usual, with Westminster, cut off-center and afflicted with temporal distortion). The digital remastering has added a new spaciousness (perhaps unduly highlighting the stereo separation, which is, at times, excessive) to the acoustic and robustness to the voices, while ever so slightly thinning out the string timbres (not necessarily a bad thing if you are used to period instruments in Handel). The clarity and sense of presence is quite remarkable. Perhaps the best news is that (unlike many such reissues), Universal has seen fit to include a well-annotated booklet with texts and translations, thereby signaling the degree to which they appreciate the importance of this recording. It is indeed a classic, and should be on the shelves of Handel aficionados, and also of anyone interested in exploring the legacy of great opera recordings.

Tracklisting:
CD1
1. Ouverture
2. Atto I. Accompagnato: Frondi tenere e belle (Serse)
3. Aria: Ombra mai fu (Serse)
4. Resitativo: Siam giunti, Elviro (Arsamene, Elviro)
5. Sinfonia e Recitativo: Sento un soave concento (Arsamene, Elviro)
6. O voi che penate (Romilda, Elviro, Arsamene)
7. Recitativo: Arsamene! – Mio sire! (Serse, Arsamene)
8. Aria: Và godendo vezzoso e bello (Romilda)
9. Recitativo: Quel canto a un bell’amor (Serse, Arsamene)
10. Aria: Io le dirò che l'amo – Tu le dirai che l’ami (Serse, Arsamene)
11. Recitativo: Arsamene! – Romilda, oh dei! (Romilda, Arsamene, Atalanta)
12. Aria: Sì, sì, mio ben, sì, sì (Atalanta)
13. Recitativo: Presto, signor, vien Serse (Elviro, Arsamene)
14. Aria: Meglio in voi col mio partire (Arsamene)
15. Recitativo: Bellissima Romilda, eh, non celate (Serse)
16. Aria: Di tacere e di schernirmi (Serse)
17. Recitativo: Aspide sono a’ detti tuoi d’amore (Romilda)
18. Aria: Nemmen con l'ombre d’infedelta (Romilda)
19. Aria: Se cangio spoglia (Amastre)
20. Recitativo: Pugnammo, amici (Ariodate, Amastre)
21. Coro: Già la tromba, che chiamò (Soldati)
22. Recitativo: Ecco Serse; oh, che volto (Amastre, Serse, Ariodate)
23. Aria: Soggetti al mio volere (Ariodate)
24. Coro: Già la tromba, che chiamò (Soldati)
25. Recitativo: Queste vittorie, io credo (Serse, Amastre)
26. Aria: Più che penso alle fiamme del core (Serse)
27. Recitativo: Eccoti il foglio, Elviro (Arsamene, Elviro)
28. Arietta: Signor, Signor, lasciate (Elviro)
29. Aria: Non so se sia la speme (Arsamene)
30. Recitativo: Tradir di reggia sposa (Amastre)
31. Aria: Saprà delle mie offese (Amastre)
32. Recitativo: Alfin sarete sposa al vostro Serse (Atalanta, Romilda)
33. Aria: Se l'idol mio rapir mi vuoi (Romilda)
34. Recitativo: Per rapir quel tesoro (Atalanta)
35. Aria: Un cenno leggiadretto (Atalanta)
CD2
1. Atto II. Arioso: Speranze mie, fermate (Amastre)
2. Arietta: Ah! Chi voler fiora di bella giardina? (Elviro)
3. Recitativo ed Arioso: E chi direbbe mai ch’io sono Elviro? (Elviro, Amastre)
4. Aria: Or che siete speranze (Amastre)
5. Recitativo: Quel curioso è partito (Elviro)
6. Arioso e Recitativo: A piangere ognora (Atalanta, Elviro)
7. Arietta: Ah! tigre infedele (Elviro)
8. Recitativo ed Arioso: Parti; il Re s'avvicina (Atalanta, Elviro)
9. Recitativo: Con questo foglio (Atalanta)
10. Arioso: È tormento troppo fiero (Serse)
11. Recitativo: Di quel foglio, Atalanta (Serse, Atalanta)
12. Aria e Recitativo: Dirà che amor per me (Atalanta)
13. Voi quel foglio lasciate (Serse, Atalanta)
14. Dirà che non m'amo (Atalanta)
15. Recitativo: Ingannata Romilda! (Serse, Romilda)
16. Duetto: L'amerete? - L'amerò (Serse, Romilda)
17. Aria: Se bramate d'amar chi vi sdegna (Serse)
18. Accompagnato: L'amerò? Non fia vero (Romilda)
19. Aria: È gelosia quella tiranna (Romilda)
20. Recitativo: Già che il duol non m’uccide (Amastre, Elvido)
21. Aria: Anima infida, tradita sono (Amastre)
22. Recitativo: È pazzo affè! (Elviro, Arsamene)
23. Aria: Quella che tutta fè (Arsamene)
24. Coro e Recitativo: La virtute sol potea (Marinari)
25. Ariodate? – Signor (Serse, Ariodate)
26. La virtute sol potea (Marinari)
27. Arioso: Per dar fine alla pena (Arsamene)
28. Recitativo: Arsamene, ove andate? (Serse, Arsamene)
29. Aria: Sì, la voglio e la otterò! (Arsamene)
30. Recitativo: V'inchino, eccelso Rè (Atalanta, Serse)
31. Aria: Voi mi dite che non l'ami (Atalanta)
32. Recitativo: Saria lieve ogni doglia (Serse)
33. Aria: Il core spera e teme (Serse)
34. Recitativo ed Accompagnato: Me infelice (Elviro)
35. Aria: Del mio caro baco amabile (Elviro)
36. Duetto: Gran pena è gelosia (Serse, Amastre)
37. Recitativo: Romilda, e sarà ver (Serse)
38. Arietta: Val più contento core (Romilda)
39. Recitativo: Vuò ch'abbian fine (Serse, Romilda, Amastre)
40. Recitativo: La fortuna, la vita (Amastre, Romilda)
41. Aria: Chi cede al furore (Romilda)
CD3
1. Atto III. Sinfonia
2. Recitativo: Sono vani e pretesti (Arsamene, Romilda)
3. Recitativo: Ahi! Scoperto è l'inganno! (Atalanta, Elviro, Arsamene, Romilda)
4. Arietta: Nò, se tu mi sprezzi (Atalanta)
5. Recitativo: Ecco in segno di fè (Romilda, Elviro, Arsamene, Serse)
6. Aria: Per rendermi beato (Serse)
7. Recitativo: Ubbidirò al mio Rè? (Arsamene, Romilda)
8. Aria: Amor, tiranno amor (Arsamene)
9. Recitativo: Come già vi accennammo (Serse, Ariodate)
10. Aria: Del Ciel d'amore sorte (Ariodate)
11. Recitativo: Il suo serto rifiuto (Romilda)
12. Recitativo: Fermatevi, mia sposa e mia regina! (Serse, Romilda)
13. Recitativo: Prode guerrier (Romilda, Amastre)
14. Aria: Cagion son io del mio dolore (Amastre)
15. Recitativo: Romilda infida (Arsamene, Romilda)
16. Duetto: Troppo inganni la mia fede (Romilda, Arsamene)
17. Coro: Ciò che Giove destinò (Ministri)
18. Recitativo: Ecco lo sposo (Ariodate, Arsamene, Romilda)
19. Coro: Chi infelice si trovò (Ministri)
20. Recitativo: Sene viene Ariodate (Serse, Ariodate)
21. Aria: Crude furie degli orridi abissi (Serse)
22. Recitativo: Perfidi! E ancor osate (Tutti)
23. Aria: Caro voi siete all'alma (Romilda)
24. Coro: Ritorna a noi la calma

LOG

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 1 from 15. November 2010

EAC extraction logfile from 25. May 2011, 12:16

Brian Priestman, M.Forrester, L.Popp, M.Tyler, M.Lehane / Handel - Serse CD1

Used drive : Optiarc DVD RW AD-7173A Adapter: 1 ID: 1

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : Yes

Read offset correction : 48
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 192 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -T "DATE=%y" -T "GENRE=%m" -8 -V %s

TOC of the extracted CD

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Peak level 98.0 %
Extraction speed 0.1 X
Range quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5ED9AF3C
Copy CRC 5ED9AF3C
Copy OK

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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

End of status report

LOG

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 1 from 15. November 2010

EAC extraction logfile from 25. May 2011, 14:39

Brian Priestman, M.Forrester, L.Popp, M.Tyler, M.Lehane / Handel - Serse CD2

Used drive : Optiarc DVD RW AD-7173A Adapter: 1 ID: 1

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : Yes

Read offset correction : 48
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 192 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -T "DATE=%y" -T "GENRE=%m" -8 -V %s

TOC of the extracted CD

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Peak level 98.1 %
Extraction speed 0.1 X
Range quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 70F425F4
Copy CRC 70F425F4
Copy OK

No errors occurred

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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

End of status report

LOG

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 1 from 15. November 2010

EAC extraction logfile from 25. May 2011, 19:07

Brian Priestman, M.Forrester, L.Popp, M.Tyler, M.Lehane / Handel - Serse CD3

Used drive : Optiarc DVD RW AD-7173A Adapter: 1 ID: 1

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : Yes

Read offset correction : 48
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 192 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\Flac\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -T "DATE=%y" -T "GENRE=%m" -8 -V %s

TOC of the extracted CD

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Filename C:\Users\Desktop\Handel - Serse CD3.wav

Peak level 98.1 %
Extraction speed 0.0 X
Range quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 35B6C883
Copy CRC 35B6C883
Copy OK

No errors occurred

AccurateRip summary

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Track 2 not present in database
Track 3 not present in database
Track 4 not present in database
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Track 6 not present in database
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None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database

End of status report

Performer:
Serse - Maureen Forrester
Arsamene – Maureen Lehane
Amastre - Mildred Miller
Ariodate - Thomas Hemsley
Romilda - Lucia Popp
Atalanta - Marilyn Tyler
Elviro - Owen Brannigan
Vienna Academy Chorus
Vienna Radio Orchestra
Conductor - Brian Priestman

Nitroflare1 | Nitroflare2 | Nitroflare3

Opera Baroque 2000s Classical Lossless