James Bowman, The King'S Consort, Robert King - Handel: Heroic Arias (1991)

Tracklist

01. Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11, Act II: Aria. Pena tiranna (Dardano)
02. Giulio Cesare, HWV 17, Act I: Aria. Va tacito e nascosto (Cesare)
03. Rinaldo, HWV 7a, Act I: Aria. Venti turbini (Rinaldo)
04. Ariodante, HWV 33, Act II: Aria. Scherza infida! (Ariodante)
05. Serse, HWV 40: Overture. Grave – Allegro
06. Giustino, HWV 37, Act III: Aria. Zeffiretto, che scorre nel prato (Giustino)
07. Giulio Cesare, HWV 17, Act II: Aria. Al lampo dell'armi (Cesare)
08. Ottone, HWV 15, Act III: No. 5, Aria. Tanti affanni (Ottone)
09. Rinaldo, HWV 7a, Act III: Aria. Or la tromba – Battaglia (Rinaldo)
10. Rinaldo, HWV 7a, Act I: Aria. Cara sposa (Rinaldo)
11. Giustino, HWV 37, Act I: Aria. Se parla nel mio cor (Giustino)
12. Alcina, HWV 34, Act II: Aria. Verdi prati (Ruggiero)

One of the most successful collaborations between legendary British countertenor James Bowman singing at the height of his powers and The King’s Consort. Universally praised on its first release, it here makes a welcome second outing on the Helios label.

Handel’s Italian operatic arias put the virtuoso singer very much in the spotlight, and none more than the most precious voice-type of the era, the star castrato. This is a selection of Handel’s most famous and melodic heroic set-pieces for his operatic heroes, alternately sweetly reflective or sparkling with fire and energy, and all performed with Bowman’s unmistakeable panache.

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