Handel: Serse

[Stéphany's] is a stunning central performance, comfortably matched by incisive playing from the Early Opera Company orchestra. Sopranos Rosemary Joshua (as Romilda) and Joelle Harvey (Atalanta)... — BBC Music Magazine, November 2013, More…

Release Date: 2nd Sep 2013
Catalogue No: CHAN0797(3)
Label: Chandos
Series: Chaconne
Length: 2 hours 45 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

September 2013

Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards

2014

Finalist - Baroque Vocal

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Handel: Serse

2:45:40

$99.75

$118.75

$175.75

Early Opera Company Chorus, Early Opera Company Orchestra
Christian Curnyn
Joelle Harvey (soprano), David Daniels (counter-tenor), Brindley Sherratt (bass), Hilary Summers (contralto), Rosemary Joshua (soprano), Andreas Wolf (bass), Anna Stéphany (mezzo-soprano)
Recorded: 13-17 August 2012
Recording Venue: Chuch of St. Silas the Martyr, Kentish Town, London, England, United Kingdom

Overture: [-] - Allegro - Adagio - Gigue

5:33

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Act I Scene 1: Accompagnato: Frondi tenere (Serse)

0:41

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Act I Scene 1: Aria: Ombra mai fu (Serse)

2:21

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Show 91 remaining tracks for Handel: Serse

Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Siam giunti, Elviro (Arsamene, Elviro)

0:22

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Act I Scene 2: Sinfonia e Recitativo: Sento un soave concento (Arsamene, Elviro)

1:49

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Act I Scene 2: Aria: O voi, che penate! (Romilda, Arsamene, Elviro, Serse)

2:05

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Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Arsamene (Serse, Arsamene)

0:20

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Act I Scene 3: Aria: Va godendo vezzoso e bello (Romilda)

2:11

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Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Quel canto a un bel amor l'anima sforza (Serse, Arsamene)

1:13

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Act I Scene 3: Duet: lo le diro che l'amo (Serse, Arsamene)

3:06

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Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Arsamene (Romilda, Arsamene, Atalanta)

1:01

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Act I Scene 4: Aria: Si, si, mio ben, si si (Atalanta)

2:21

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Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Presto, Signor, vien Sere (Elviro, Arsamene, Serse, Romilda)

1:11

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Act I Scene 5: Aria: Meglio in voi col mio partire (Arsamene)

2:04

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Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Bellissima Romilda, eh, non celate (Serse)

0:26

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Act I Scene 6: Aria: Di tacere e di schernirmi (Serse)

1:55

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Act I Scene 7: Recitative: Aspide sono a' dette tuoi d'amore (Romilda)

0:16

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Act I Scene 7: Aria: Nemmen coll'ombre (Romilda)

2:31

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Act I Scene 8: Aria: Se cangio spoglia (Amastre)

1:41

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Act I Scene 9: Recitative: Pugnammo, amici (Ariodate, Amastre)

0:19

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Act I Scene 9: Coro di soldati: Gia la tromba (Chorus)

0:38

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Act I Scene 10: Recitative: Ecco Serse, o che volto (Amastre, Serse, Ariodate)

0:52

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Act I Scene 10: Aria: Soggetto al mio volere (Ariodate)

1:48

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Act I Scene 10: Coro di soldati: Gia la tromba (Chorus)

0:39

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Act I Scene 11: Recitative: Queste vittorie, io credo (Serse, Amastre)

1:27

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Act I Scene 11: Aria: Piu che penso alle fiamme (Serse)

8:35

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Act I Scene 12: Recitative: Eccoti il foglio, Elviro (Arsamene, Elviro)

0:31

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Act I Scene 12: Arioso: Signor, signor, lasciate far a me (Elviro)

0:32

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Act I Scene 12: Aria: Non so se sia la speme (Arsamene)

4:11

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Act I Scene 13: Recitative: Tradir di reggia sposa (Amastre)

0:17

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Act I Scene 13: Aria: Sapra delle mie offese (Amastre)

4:27

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Act I Scene 14: Recitative: Al fin sarete sposa (Atalanta, Romilda)

1:01

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Act I Scene 14: Aria: Se l'idol mio (Romilda)

4:05

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Act I Scene 15: Recitative: Per rapir quel tesoro (Atalanta)

0:15

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Act I Scene 15: Aria: Un cenno leggiadretto (Atalanta)

3:41

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Act II Scene 1: Arioso: Speranze mie fermate (Amastre)

0:42

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Act II Scene 1: Arioso: Ah! Chi voler fiora (Elviro)

0:40

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Act II Scene 1: Recitative: E chi direbbe mai (Elviro, Amastre)

2:24

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Act II Scene 1: Aria: Or che siete speranze tradite (Amastre)

2:28

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Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Quel curioso e partito (Elviro)

0:22

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Act II Scene 2: Arioso: A piangere ogn'ora Amor mi destina (Atalanta) - Recitative: Ola! Vien qua (Elviro)

1:17

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Act II Scene 2: Arioso: Ah! Tigre infedele (Elviro)

0:13

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Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Parti, il Re s'aviccina (Atalanta, Elviro)

0:17

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Act II Scene 3: Arioso: E tormento troppo fiero (Serse)

1:04

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Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Di quel foglio, Atalanta (Serse, Atalanta)

1:06

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Act II Scene 3: Aria: Dira che amor per me (Atalanta)

1:32

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Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Voi quel folgio lasciate (Serse, Atalanta)

0:10

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Act II Scene 3: Aria: Dira che no m'amo (Atalanta)

1:44

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Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Ingannata Romilda (Serse, Romilda)

0:32

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Act II Scene 4: Duet: L'amerete? (Serse, Romilda)

0:54

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Act II Scene 4: Aria: Se brameate d'amar, chi vi sdegna (Serse)

5:52

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Act II Scene 5: Accompagnato: L'amero? non fia vero (Romilda)

0:55

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Act II Scene 5: Aria: E gelosia quella tiranna (Romilda)

2:40

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Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Gia che il duol m'uccide (Amastre, Elviro)

0:25

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Act II Scene 6: Aria: Anima infida, tradita io sono (Amastre)

1:40

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Act II Scene 7: Recitative: E pazzo affe (Elviro, Arsamene)

0:45

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Act II Scene 7: Aria: Quella che tutta fe (Arsamene)

3:34

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Act II Scene 8: Coro di marinari: La virtute sol potea (Chorus)

0:23

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Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Ariodate! (Serse, Ariodate)

0:32

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Act II Scene 8: Coro di Marinari: La virtute sol potea (Chorus)

0:26

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Act II Scene 9: Arioso: Per dar fine alla mia pena (Arsamene)

1:01

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Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Arsamene, ove andate? (Serse, Arsamene)

1:15

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Act II Scene 9: Aria: Si, la voglio e la otterro (Arsamene)

2:33

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Act II Scene 10: Recitativo: V'inchino, eccelso Re (Atalanta, Serse)

0:22

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Act II Scene 10: Aria: Voi mi dite che non l'ami (Atalanta)

2:57

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Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Saria lieve ogni doglia (Serse)

0:17

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Act II Scene 10: Aria: Il core spera e teme (Serse)

5:54

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Act II Scene 11: Accompanied: Me infelice, ho smarrito il mio padrone! (Elviro)

0:58

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Act II Scene 11: Aria: Del mio caro bacco amabile (Elviro)

1:17

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Act II Scene 12: Duet: Gran pena e gelosia - Lo sa il mio cor piagato (Serse, Amastre)

1:34

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Act II Scene 12: Recitative: Aspra sorte! (Serse, Amastre)

0:58

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Act II Scene 13: Aria: Val piu contento core (Romilda)

1:56

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Act II Scene 13: Recitative: Vuo ch'abbian fine (Serse, Romilda, Amastre)

1:11

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Act II Scene 14: Aria: Chi cede al furore (Romilda)

5:09

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Act III: Sinfonia

2:48

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Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Sono vani e pretesti (Arsamene, Romilda, Atalanta, Elvino)

1:32

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Act III Scene 2: Aria: No, no, se tu mi sprezzi (Atalanta)

1:01

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Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Ecco in segno di fe la destra amica (Romilda, Elviro, Arsamene, Serse)

1:18

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Act III Scene 3: Aria: Per rendermi beato (Serse)

3:27

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Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Ubbidiro al mio Re (Arsamene, Romilda)

0:56

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Act III Scene 4: Aria: Amor, tiranno Amor (Arsamene)

3:44

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Act III Scene 5: Recitative: Come gia vi accennammo (Serse, Ariodate)

0:41

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Act III Scene 5: Aria: Del Ciel d'amore sorte si bella (Ariodate)

2:20

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Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Il suo serto rifuto (Romilda, Amastre)

2:56

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Act III Scene 8: Aria: Cagion son io del mio dolore (Amastre)

2:31

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Act III Scene 9: Recitative: Romilda infida (Arsamene, Romilda)

0:18

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Act III Scene 9: Duet: Troppo inganni la mia fede (Romilda, Arsamene) - Troppo inganni la mia fede (Romilda, Arsamene)

2:37

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Act III Scene 10: Coro di ministri: Cio che Giove destino (Chorus)

0:36

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Act III Scene 10: Recitative: Ecco lo sposo! (Ariodate, Arsamene, Romilda)

1:05

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Act III Scene 10: Coro di ministri: Chi infelice si trovo (Chorus)

0:23

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Act III Scene 11: Recitative: Se ne viene Ariodate (Serse, Ariodate)

1:56

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Act III Scene 11: Aria: Crude Furie degl'orridi abissi (Serse)

3:29

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Act III Finale: Recitative: Pefidi! e ancor osate (Serse, Ariodate, Arsamene, Romilda, Amastre, Elviro, Atalanta)

1:54

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Act III Finale: Aria: Caro voi siete all'alma (Romilda) - Ritorna a noi la calma (Chorus)

3:44

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Hide 91 tracks for Handel: Serse

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Favourites, Handel Operas

Katherine focuses on the hugely prolific composer's stage-works in this week's Favourites.

Handel’s opera Serse is characterised by its ironic libretto, humorous situations, and high number of short arias.

The main character is the unpredictably obsessive and volatile King Xerxes, a historical character who ruled the Achemenid Empire from 486 BC to 465 BC. The plot concerning the rivalry between Xerxes and his brother, Arsamene, for Romilda, however, is entirely fictional, as is the King’s betrayal of his fiancé, Amastre.

The opera is based on a libretto adapted by the poet Silvio Stampiglia for Giovanni Bononcini, whose setting was staged at Rome’s Teatro di Torre Nona in 1694. Handel completed his opera in 1738 in little more than a month. However, his typically swift pace and resourceful treatment of musical themes and models should not be misconstrued as complacency, carelessness, or low imaginative powers. The autograph manuscript reveals that Handel invested considerable skill in arias that are perfectly tailored to the dramatic storyline, many of which were meticulously crafted and then redrafted.

The opera was premiered at The King’s Theatre on the Haymarket on 15 April 1738, but it only received five performances, which at the time ranked it as one of Handel’s worst commercial failures. The opera was not performed again until Oscar Hagen’s arrangement was staged at Göttingen in 1924, after which several productions in the USA and the UK followed. In recent times, the work has finally received the recognition it deserves, partly thanks to the uncut production, mounted at English National Opera to mark the composer’s 300th birthday in 1985.

Serse is here performed by the Early Opera Company under Christian Curnyn, who won a BBC Music Award in 2013 for its recording of Handel’s Alceste. They are joined on this recording by a host of excellent soloists including Rosemary Joshua in the role of Romilda, Anna Stéphany as Xerxes, David Daniels as Arsamene, and Hilary Summers as Amastre.

Reviews

November 2013

[Stéphany's] is a stunning central performance, comfortably matched by incisive playing from the Early Opera Company orchestra. Sopranos Rosemary Joshua (as Romilda) and Joelle Harvey (Atalanta) melt and sparkle to order, accompanied by fluttering recorders.

28th September 2013

an extremely classy account...Stéphany can compete with the best of today’s mezzos: she combines feeling, dignity, elegance...this really is a baroque vocal feast...Curnyn shows such an easy command of the idiom: there is no aggressive accenting or exaggeration of tempo.

September 2013

Stephany sings superbly...Joshua far eclipses her counterparts on the rival recordings, singing with sweet, sensuous tone and characterising deftly...Summers suggests the pathos as well as the outrage of Serse's wrong fiancee Amastre...this beautifully recorded new version is the one to go for.

August 2014

Replacing an indisposed Sarah Connolly at short notice, Anglo-French mezzo Anna Stéphany stamps her own authority and temperament on the title-role on Christian Curnyn's new recording of Serse with the Early Opera Company, starring David Daniels as Arsamene and Rosemary Joshua as Romilda.

6th October 2013

[This] goes to the top of the list of original-language performances on disc...thanks to the conductor’s unerring sense of style...[Stéphany] launches the opera raptly...and is fearless in the two great bravura scenes...[Daniels's] lamenting arias approach the sublime here. A total success.

22nd September 2013

[a] flowing, affectionate and beautifully shaped reading...The cast is superb throughout...But it's Anna Stéphany's show: she sweeps all before her as a magnificent Serse. This is one of the most consistently satisfying current Handel opera recordings.

Early Music Today

With its short, tuneful arias and amorous imbroglios, Serse is delectable baroque entertainment, and the Early Opera Company’s polish and vivacity seem a fair exchange for Curnyn’s downplaying of the broader humour on offer.

Opera Now

Stéphany does a good job with the unstable Xerxes, snapping between sentimentality and psychopathy, and sings the part forcefully and with character...Curnyn conducts with spirit, though things flag a bit at the beginning of Act 3.

Handel: Serse

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