Mike Fentross, Oscar Verhaar, La Sfera Armoniosa - Oratorio Arias (2024)

Tracklist

01. Deborah, HWV 51, Act I: All danger disdaining
02. Samson HWV 57, Act II: Return, O God of Hosts
03. Alexander Balus HWV 65, Act III: Fury, with red-sparkling Eyes
04. Susanna HWV 66, Act I: Unmarked
05. Susanna HWV 66, Act II: Staccato e non troppo allegro - Lentement
06. Deborah HWV 51, Act I: In the Battle
07. Belshazzar HWV 61, Act I: Air - O sacred Oracles of Truth
08. Belshazzar HWV 61, Act II: Recit. accompany'd - Rejoice, my Countrymen
09. Belshazzar HWV 61, Act III: Recit. accompany'd - Thus saith the Lord
10. Joseph and his Brethren HWV 59, Symphony: I. Andante
11. Joseph and his Brethren HWV 59, Symphony: II. Larghetto
12. Joseph and his Brethren HWV 59, Symphony: III. Allegro
13. Joseph and his Brethren HWV 59, Symphony: IV. Menuet, Larghetto e piano
14. Joseph and his Brethren HWV 59, Act I: Be firm, my Soul
15. Saul HWV 53, Act II: O Lord, whose Mercies numberless
16. Jephta HWV 70, Act III: Up the dreadful Steep ascending

The debut album by young countertenor Oscar Verhaar showcases eight arias drawn from Handel's English oratorios.

Freedom is a dominant theme in the English oratorios of Georg Friedrich Handel. These grand works are mostly based on biblical stories that deal with resistance, suppression, captivity and, finally, freedom. In his oeuvre we find impressive slave choruses and many arias about (the lack of) freedom, eight of which are presented on this album.As a versatile early music singer, countertenor Oscar Veraar has been performing major works by composers such as Bach and Handel next to lesser-known music from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. His interest in performance practice also leads him to do much of the required musicological research for these works. In this recording he can benefit from the invaluable support of an experienced orchestra like La Sfera Armoniosa, conducted by Mike Fentross.

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