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Handel: Tamerlano

Xavier Sabata (Tamerlano), Max Emanuel Cencic (Andronico), John Mark Ainsley (Bajazet), Karina Gauvin (Asteria), Ruxandra Donose (Irene), Pavel Kudinov (Leone)

Il Pomo d’Oro, Riccardo Minasi

Handel: Tamerlano

Awards:

The cast is of exceptional and even strength...[Sabata and Cencic] deliver brilliant tone and lively fioritura, while the scenes between Sabata and Ainsley crackle with fury...An all-round outstanding...

BBC Music Magazine, August 20145 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Handel: Tamerlano

Xavier Sabata (Tamerlano), Max Emanuel Cencic (Andronico), John Mark Ainsley (Bajazet), Karina Gauvin (Asteria), Ruxandra Donose (Irene), Pavel Kudinov (Leone)

Il Pomo d’Oro, Riccardo Minasi

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Awards:

The cast is of exceptional and even strength...[Sabata and Cencic] deliver brilliant tone and lively fioritura, while the scenes between Sabata and Ainsley crackle with fury...An all-round outstanding...

BBC Music Magazine, August 20145 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

Following the recording of several complete Baroque operas: Faramondo, Farnace, Artaserse, Alessandro, all received with unrestrained critical enthusiasm eg Gramophone Editor's Choice, BBC Music Magazine CD of the Month, Handel Recording Prize, Max Emanuel Cencic once again brings together a fine group of singers and orchestra for the rarely recorded Handel opera, 'Tamerlano'.

The title role is taken by the exceptional counter-tenor, Xavier Sabata. A remarkable boxed-set released simultaneously with an extensive concert tour in Europe.

  • Release date: 7th Apr 2014
  • Label: Naive
  • Catalogue number: V5373
  • Length: 3 hours 12 minutes
  • Genre:

Contents and tracklist

Handel: Tamerlano, HWV 18 (1731 version)
Work length3:12:36
Overture
Track length1:39
Allegro - Adagio
Track length1:54
Menuet
Track length1:25
Act I Scene 1: Sinfonia: Largo e staccato - Scene 1: Recitative: Esci, esci, o Signore (Andronico) - Scene 1: Sinfonia: Largo e staccato
Track length2:01
Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Prence, lo so: ti devo Questo di liberta brieve momento, (Bajazet, Andronico)
Track length2:18
Act I Scene 1: Aria: Forte e lieto a morte andrei (Bajazet)
Track length3:56
Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Non si perda di vista il disperato (Andronico, Tamerlano)
Track length2:00
Act I Scene 2: Aria: Vuo dar pace a un'alma altiera (Tamerlano)
Track length4:46
Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Il Tartaro ama Asteria (Andronico)
Track length0:25
Act I Scene 3: Aria: Bella Asteria, il tuo cor mi difenda (Andronico)
Track length5:39
Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Non e piu tempo, Asteria (Tamerlano, Asteria)
Track length1:17
Act I Scene 4: Aria: Dammi pace, o volto amato (Tamerlano)
Track length4:01
Act I Scene 5: Recitative: Serve Asteria di prezzo al Greco infido (Asteria)
Track length0:23
Act I Scene 5: Aria: S' ei non mi vuol amar (Asteria)
Track length5:49
Act I Scene 6: Recitative: Non ascolto piu nulla (Bajazet, Andronico, Asteria)
Track length2:30
Act I Scene 6: Aria: Ciel e terra armi di sdegno (Bajazet)
Track length3:29
Act I Scene 7: Recitative: Asteria non parlate? (Andronico, Asteria)
Track length0:58
Act I Scene 7: Aria: Deh, lasciatemi il nemico (Asteria)
Track length6:09
Act I Scene 8: Recitative: Cosi la sposa il Tamerlano accoglie? (Irene, Leone, Andronico)
Track length1:54
Act I Scene 8: Aria: Dal crudel che m'ha tradita, Tentero con la mia vita (Irene)
Track length3:11
Act I Scene 9: Recitative: Chi vide mai piu sventurato amante? (Andronico)
Track length1:12
Act I Scene 9: Aria: Benche mi sprezzi (Andronico)
Track length5:43
Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Amico, tengo un testimon fedele (Tamerlano, Andronico)
Track length1:11
Act II Scene 1: Aria: Bella gara che faranno (Tamerlano)
Track length4:48
Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Qui l'infedel! (Asteria, Andronico)
Track length1:34
Act II Scene 2: Aria: Non e piu tempo no, Un altro stringero (Asteria)
Track length2:32
Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Ah, no! Dove trascorri, idolo mio? (Andronico)
Track length0:56
Act II Scene 3: Aria: Cerco in vano di placare L'idol mio, il mio bel nume (Andronico)
Track length5:31
Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Signor, vergine illustre chiede accostarsi (Leone, Tamerlano, Irene)
Track length1:19
Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Senti, chiunque tu sia (Asteria, Irene)
Track length0:37
Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Non si perda di vista questa schiava nemica e risoluta (Irene, Leone)
Track length0:32
Act II Scene 6: Aria: Par che mi nasca in seno un raggio di speranza a consolarmi il cor (Irene)
Track length5:54
Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Veggio da questi amori nascer strane vicende (Leone)
Track length0:26
Act II Scene 6: Aria: Amor da guerra e pace, da pene e da tormenti (Leone)
Track length4:05
Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Dov' e mia figlia, Andronico? (Bajazet, Andronico)
Track length1:09
Act II Scene 7: Aria: A' suoi piedi padre esangue (Bajazet)
Track length6:36
Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Se Asteria mi tradisce, al certo io voglio darle (Andronico)
Track length0:21
Act II Scene 8: Aria: Piu d'una tigre altero (Andronico)
Track length3:27
Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Al soglio, al soglio, oh bella! (Tamerlano, Asteria, Bajazet, Andronico)
Track length4:36
Act II Scene 10: Recitative: E per lei vengo ad impegnar quel posto e promesso e dovuto (Irene, Asteria, Tamerlano, Bajazet, Andronico)
Track length5:30
Act II Scene 10: Trio: Voglio strage (Tamerlano, Bajazet, Asteria)
Track length1:21
Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Padre, dimmi, son piu l'indegna figlia? (Asteria)
Track length0:05
Act II Scene 10: Arietta: No, no, il tuo sdegno mi placo (Bajazet)
Track length1:31
Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Andronico, son piu l'infida amante? (Asteria)
Track length0:07
Act II Scene 10: Arietta: No, che del tuo gran cor io sono l'offenso (Andronico)
Track length1:02
Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Amica, son quella superba donna? (Asteria)
Track length0:06
Act II Scene 10: Arietta: No, che sei tanto costante Nella la fede a me promessa (Irene)
Track length1:02
Act II Scene 10: Recitative: Si, si, son vendicata (Asteria)
Track length0:23
Act II Scene 10: Aria: Se potessi un di placare Il mio fato si crudele (Asteria)
Track length4:54
Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Figlia, siam rei, io di schernito sdegno (Bajazet, Asteria)
Track length2:47
Act III Scene 1: Aria: Cor di padre, E cor d'amante (Asteria)
Track length9:20
Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Andronico, il mio amore (Tamerlano, Andronico, Asteria)
Track length2:47
Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Come? Asteria, tu a pie del Tamerlano? (Bajazet, Tamerlano, Andronico)
Track length1:16
Act III Scene 3: Aria: A dispetto d'un volto ingrato Piu sdegnato gia s'agita il cor (Tamerlano)
Track length4:22
Act III Scene 4: Recitative: Figlia, con atto vil tutta perdesti (Bajazet, Asteria, Andronico)
Track length1:11
Act III Scene 5: Recitative: L'empieta de' ministri (Leone, Andronico, Asteria)
Track length0:34
Act III Scene 5: Duet: Vivo in te, mio caro bene, E se morte e a te gradita (Asteria, Andronico)
Track length6:41
Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Reina, e vuoto il trono, non tocca ad occuparlo ora che a voi (Leone, Irene)
Track length0:50
Act III Scene 6: Aria: Crudel piu non son io, Amarlo e dover mio (Irene)
Track length2:56
Act III Scene 7: Recitative: Principesse infelice, infido Tamerlano! (Leone)
Track length0:43
Act III Scene 7: Aria: Nel mondo e nell'abisso Io non pavento tutto l'orror (Leone)
Track length4:58
Act III Scene 8: Recitative: Eccoti, Bajazete, dall'angusto ritiro in cui t'avea gia l'ira mia ristretto (Tamerlano, Bajazet, Andronico)
Track length1:37
Act III Scene 8: Aria: Se non mi rendi il mio tesoro, Tu dir non sai qual sia pieta (Andronico)
Track length2:32
Act III Scene 9: Recitative: Eccomi, che si chiede? (Asteria, Tamerlano, Andronico, Bajazet, Irene)
Track length3:04
Act III Scene 9: Recitative: Padre, amante, di voi chi vuole il merto delle vendette mie? (Asteria)
Track length0:46
Act III Scene 9: Arioso: Folle sei, se lo consenti (Asteria, Andronico, Bajazet, Tamerlano)
Track length2:57
Act III Scene 9: Recitative: E il soffrirete, d'onestade, o Numi? (Bajazet)
Track length0:30
Act III Scene 9: Aria: Empio, per farti guerra (Bajazet)
Track length3:56
Act III Scene 9: Recitative: Signor, fra tante cure che fia d'Irene? (Irene, Tamerlano)
Track length0:42
Act III Scene 10: Recitative: Vieni, Asteria, e saprai (Leone, Andronico, Tamerlano, Asteria)
Track length1:13
Act III Scene 11: Recitative: Oh, per me lieto, avventuroso giorno! (Bajazet, Tamerlano)
Track length0:56
Act III Scene 11: Recitative: Fremi, minaccia; mi rido del tuo furor, di tue minaccie (Bajazet, Asteria)
Track length2:46
Act III Scene 11: Arioso: Figlia mia, non pianger (Bajazet)
Track length1:48
Act III Scene 11: Recitative: Tu, spietato, il vedrai (Bajazet)
Track length3:06
Act III Final Scene: Recitative: Barbaro! Or manca solo il morir mio al tuo trionfo (Asteria, Tamerlano)
Track length1:07
Act III Final Scene: D'atra notte gia mirasi a scorno, D'un bel giorno, brillar lo splendor (Irene, Andronico, Tamerlano, Leone)
Track length2:57

Spotlight on this release

Awards and reviews

August 2014

The cast is of exceptional and even strength...[Sabata and Cencic] deliver brilliant tone and lively fioritura, while the scenes between Sabata and Ainsley crackle with fury...An all-round outstanding performance...The oorchestral performance is dynamic, the bowing expressive.
5 out of 5 stars

23rd May 2014

Il pomo d’oro provide further evidence that the period movement’s centre of gravity has shifted emphatically in Italy’s direction.
4 out of 5 stars

August 2014

Bursting with an energetic, dramatic drive and great characterisation from the soloists. An all-round excellent Handel release...newcomers should start with this throat-grabbing performance.

August 2014

Tempos are mostly judicious, while Il Pomo d’Oro responds with vital, vigorous playing mercifully largely lacking the mannerisms encouraged by some Italian directors. The cast is a fine one. John Mark Ainsley conveys the stubborn pride of Bajazet with great dignity, at the same time achieving true tragic status as he meets his end in an extraordinary sequence of accompanied recitatives.

August 2014

this recording from Il Pomo d'Oro and Riccardo Minasi boasts an exceptionally strong cast, not least John Mark Ainsley's nuanced Bajazet and Max Cencic's charismatic Andronico. In the title-role Xavier Sabata's surprisingly sweet tone is no barrier to his credibility as the volatile tyrant.
Katherine Cooper

13th April 2014

Sabata’s bad-boy manner captures the unstable mood swings of the Mongol ruler...If John Mark Ainsley’s commanding Bajazet is the great performance here, the entire set makes the strongest case yet for this masterpiece on disc, ideally paced by Riccardo Minasi and his splendid period band.

8th May 2014

Sabata makes Tamerlano the most insidious and dangerous of psychopaths...Ainsley's noble, harrowing Bajazet has rarely been bettered...Minasi's conducting is second to none, too, and the work's severity and sensuousness are wonderfully captured by Il Pomo d'Oro. This is one of the great Handel recordings and very highly recommended.
5 out of 5 stars

1st April 2014

It’s a treasure chest of music seldom heard.

15th June 2014

John Mark Ainsley is anguished as the volatile monarch. Instead of the contraltos of yesteryear we have two superbly agile countertenors, Xavier Sabata and Max Emanuel Cencic, sharing the honours with Riccardo Minasi's wiry, pungent period band
4 out of 5 stars

Opera Now

Sabata’s Tamerlano has rich tone and a refulgent chest voice; Max Emanuel Cenčić has a higher vocal placement and more glittering colour...[Gauvin's] high-lying soprano both rich yet pure and technically undaunted by this virtuosic role...Minasi ensures that the recitatives have as much drama as the arias and ensembles.
3 out of 5 stars
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