Customer Rating : 
List Price : $43.98 Price : $76.95
List Price : $43.98 Price : $76.95
Handel: Giustino Reviews
Handel: Giustino Reviews
| 18 of 21 people found the following review helpful  Not a moment of disappointment!, By A Customer This review is from: Handel: Giustino (Audio CD) This was the opera that opened my ears to Handel. Built on an entertaining, although slightly disjointed plot, and full of wonderful melodies, this opera kept me spellbound for almost three hours, my eyes following the libretto. The recording was made following live performances at the Handel Festival in Gottingen; and the stage experiences obviously added to the depth of the performers' characterization of the music. The cast if outstanding. Michael Chance's singing as Giustino is expressive and consistent. Dorothea Roschmann as Arianna confirms her fame as one of the fastest-ascending soprano stars in baroque opera. Drew Minter makes an appropriately sly Amanzio. Mark Padmore shows off his dramatic skills and a gorgeous silky tenor voice in the role of the hot-tempered Vitaliano. The rest of the cast deserve as much praise. I would say that this is one of Handel's best operas, and definitely presented here at the level that will be hard to beat. Chance and... Read more 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful a voice teacher and early music fan, By This review is from: Handel: Giustino (Audio CD) CHARMING, DISARMING BUT NEVER ALARMING! DELIGHTFUL NOT FRIGHTFUL!The story of a farm boy called by the Gods to save the maiden in distress; that's the story. This opera has been described as having a "cartoon-adventure" plot in the style of an old-fashioned fairy tale. For example when we first meet our hero Guistino (Michael Chance) he is at the plough and we hear the music of the trilling flute almost as if it were a scene from a Disney woodland cartoon; absolutely charming! 'Giustino' does not fit easily into the confines of dramatic genre. It could be that type of entertainment which Polonius described as "tragical-comical-historical-pastoral." However, 'Guistino' possesses its own infectious energy which is difficult to resist; but then why should we resist the power of an old-fashioned fairy tale? Not only do we have Chance in this opera , we also are gifted with the tenor voice of Mark Padmore portraying Vitaliano, the brave and hot-tempered... Read more 16 of 21 people found the following review helpful A neglected Handelian operatic masterwork, By A Customer This review is from: Handel: Giustino (Audio CD) Giustino is not one of Handel's well-known operas (if such a thing exists) and the quality of the whole conveyed by this exemplary recording from Nicholas McGeegan makes me wonder why. It is dramatically coherent and structurally sound. Perhaps the fairy tale-like elements detract from the seriousness of this opera seria. I am a true admirer of McGeegan's interpretations of Handelian opera and I think this is one of his finest recordings of the ouvre. The one thing I do not particularly care for in this recording is the casting of Dawn Kotoski as the soprano male role of Anastasio. While Ms. Kotoski is undoubtedly a fine soprano, I find her a bit overpowering at times, especially considering the role of Anastasio was originally characterized by a soprano castrato (yes it's true, I've done my research). You'll notice, however, that my one complaint has not caused me to give this recording a less-than-outstanding review--I still give it five stars. This recording was... Read more |
› See all 6 customer reviews...
No comments:
Post a Comment