Handel: Marian Cantatas and Arias

Georg Friederich Handel (Composer)
Reinhard Goebel (Conductor)
Cologne Musica Antiqua (Orchestra)
Anne Sofie von Otter (Performer) 

1. Haec est Regina virginum HWV235: 'Haec est Regina virginum' 	
2. Ah! che troppo ineguali HWV230: (Recitativo:) 'Ah! che troppo ineguali' 	 	
3. Ah! che troppo ineguali HWV230: (Aria) Adagio: 'O del ciel Maria regina' 	 	
4. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: Introduzione 	 	
5. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Recitativo:) 'Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi' 	 	
6. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Aria:) 'Vacillo, per terror del primo errore' 	 	
7. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Recitativo accompagnato:) 'Torna immobile in grembo' 	 	
8. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Aria) Adagio: 'Tu sei la bella serena stella' 	 	
9. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Recitativo:) 'Pur nella via che resta' 		
10. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Aria) Allegro: 'Sorga pure dall'orrido averno' 	 	
11. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Recitativo:) 'Dunque a te diamo lodi' 		
12. Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi HWV 233: (Aria con coro:) 'Maria, salute e speme' 	 	
13. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Recitativo:) 'Giunta l'ora fatal dal ciel prescritta' 	 	
14. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: Cavatina: 'Se d'un Dio fui fatta Madre' 	 	
15. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Recitativo accompagnato:) 'Ah me infelice!' & Cavatina da capo 	16. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Recitativo:) 'Ahime ch'Egli gia esclama ad alta voce' 	 	
17. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Aria:) 'Sventurati miei sospiri' 	 	
18. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Recitativo accompagnato:) 'Si disse la gran Madre' 	 	
19. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Aria:) 'Pari all'amor immenso' 	 	
20. Il pianto de Maria -Giunta l'ora fatal HWV234: (Recitativo accompagnato:) 'Or se per grande orror tremo la terra' 	


This is one of my desert island discs! It deserves a classical status among the recordings of Handel's music. But not only Handel's: the longest work on this CD, a magnificent cantata previously attributed to Handel ("Giunta l'ora fatal"), has been written by Giovanni Battista Ferrandini, an Italian composer at the court of Munich. Ferrandini has been identified as a composer of this work quite recently (the booklet refers to a publication from 1994, where the details of the discovery are presented). As Reinhard Goebel writes in his notes for the booklet, the "chain of evidence... is convincing - and needs to be, because Ferrandini's other known works are no more than mediocre" (p. 8). This cantata is certainly not a mediocre work and the fact that it had been misattributed to Handel tells a lot about its qualities. The disc contains three works by Handel, a cantata "Donna, che in ciel di tanta luce splendi" being the longest and most impressive one. Its 'da capo' aria "Tu sei la bella serena stella" will melt anybody's heart: I have always wondered why it isn't better known. It is such a beautiful song. I cannot find adequate words of praise for Anne Sofie von Otter's singing! This CD, bought years ago, was my first real encouter with von Otter's art and a real eye - or ear - opener (I bought it for Handel and ... a beautiful cover featuring magnificent Madonna by Piero della Francesca). If you know her last year's "Lamenti", this earlier (1994) release - also made with Musica Antiqua Koeln under R. Goebel - is a must: these both records go wonderfully together. For many, this CD's main attraction will be its rarely performed music (as it was for me), music that certainly is worth exploring. An outstanding release in every respect! A real treasure...


attributed awards:
5 stars in amazon
10/10 of repertory classical music CD
CHOC de la musique "Le monde de la musique"

EAC -----> lame mp3 encoder (3.97) 320 KBPS @ vbr

please, seed it ^^ thanks