HANDEL

Il Trionfo del tempo e del disinganno

 

Natalie Dessay, Ann Hallenberg, Sonia Prina, Pavol Breslik

Le Concert d’Astrée / Emmanuelle Haïm

 

Further to their splendid Handelian collaboration in ‘Il Delirio Amoroso’, Natalie Dessay and Emmanuelle Haïm are once again brought together on one of Handel’s major Italian scores. Co-starring with Natalie is an international cast of three rising soloists, two of which are new to Virgin Classics: Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg and Slovakian tenor Pavol Breslik. The Italian alto Sonia Prina was first introduced in ‘L’Orfeo’ also under the direction of Emmanuelle Haïm.

 

Emmanuelle Haïm performed the work at the Barbican in London, in March 2005. The cast, apart from Natalie Dessay, was identical to the one on the disc. “Emmanuelle Haïm's performance with her ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée was a thing of wonder: at once profound, sensual, witty and immaculate. The singing was phenomenal. A gorgeous evening, every second of it.”

Tim Ashley - The Guardian, March 8, 2005

 

Written in 1707 (and Handel’s first oratorio) Il Trionfo features the four characters of Beauty, Pleasure, Enlightenment and Time. The work is of great virtuosity and is quite sensual - which is at odds with the libretto’s origins as they came from Handel’s patron Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili. The score's greatness lies in Handel's understanding of the closeness between sensuous and spiritual experience and his refusal to downgrade the worldly in favour of the transcendent. Beauty and Pleasure are given some of the most consistently sexual music in his output!

 

This product comes in a multipack with a 52 page booklet.

 

Virgin 2cds 3634282