Handel Cantatas.

[Josquin des Prez]

How are they? Any comparison with those of Bach? I just noticed they are printing a complete edition of those works and i was wondering if it was worth investing in it. Anybody tried it yet?

[knight66]

I have a number of his Italian cantatas. The ones I have are secular and set for solo voice. Some are based on mythical situations. here is an example.



In this Lucretia is given music to show a range of emotions as she goes through the agony of her situation. This is a superb performance. Janet Baker also recorded it with great success.



This disc also has the Lucretia and again, it is well worth hearing.

The quality of the music is first rate. Some were written in Rome to commission, but Handel continued to write some in the Roman style when he lived in England.

Mike

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I love Minkowski in Handel and second Knight's rec of the Archiv/DG disc above.

This Lemieux disc on Analekta is another fine secular cantata disc. And if you haven't heard Lemieux, she's a fabulous contralto.




As for the sacred cantatas, Handel's Salve Regina is an otherworldly delight. Beautifully performed by Kirkby.





As far as comparisons to Bach...no need, as far as I can tell...

[marvinbrown]

This disc also has the Lucretia and again, it is well worth hearing.

The quality of the music is first rate. Some were written in Rome to commission, but Handel continued to write some in the Roman style when he lived in England.

Mike

  Glad to hear that you think so highly of this recording Mike.  I just bought it a few days ago.

  marvin

[Mozart]

This was my 2nd Handel work than I ran into by chance.

It's excellent! Short and sweet. Here are the first few arias.

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/0nY8kvMc1pA

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/ypTpmgLDe68

These arias aren't from this recording, but they are originally from this cantata.

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/TWjcCVbVFYQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/P4XeX3rgU9U


And this is from Delirio.
Natalie Dessay
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/WFQZZZEoll8

For the Lucrezia cantata, try the disk with Veronique Gens, she is amazing.

[Rod Corkin]

As for the sacred cantatas, Handel's Salve Regina is an otherworldly delight. Beautifully performed by Kirkby.





As far as comparisons to Bach...no need, as far as I can tell...

I have that CD, I think Kirkby is pretty awful in it for the most part, her girlish giggle is more appropriate for Gilbert and Sullivan than Handel.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I have that CD, I think Kirkby is pretty awful in it for the most part, her girlish giggle is more appropriate for Gilbert and Sullivan than Handel.

oh

[Mozart]

oh

I've got to agree with nasty nate, I have this cd and wasn't particularly impressed. Her voice doesn't have a great texture for this music.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I've got to agree with nasty nate, I have this cd and wasn't particularly impressed. Her voice doesn't have a great texture for this music.

Handel needs more than a pretty voice to be effective. Things like range, precision, diction, and color.

I'm not sure what you're intending with the term "texture", here. Or, rather, the lack of it.

For that matter, "girlish giggle" is over my head, too.

All I know is Kirkby has all the qualities of fine Handel cantata singer, at least in terms of what I listed. 

It's too late to get into a blow-by-blow of this disc but a quick re-listen only confirms that at the very least she deserves better than vague branding...

[Que]

I don't know the BiS, but I have an earlier disc ('81/'82) with Kirkby participating - which is very nice.

How are they? Any comparison with those of Bach? I just noticed they are printing a complete edition of those works and i was wondering if it was worth investing in it. Anybody tried it yet?

Are you refering to this series on Glossa under Fabio Bonizzoni?
Let me second JdP: has anybody heard them?



Q

[Rod Corkin]

Are you refering to this series on Glossa under Fabio Bonizzoni?
Let me second JdP: has anybody heard them?

I have the first two and will get the third soon, very nice for the most part so far. But this undertaking is not the complete Handel cantatas by any means. I doubt that will ever happen, but I'm glad Gardiner is a Bach fan!