Handel: Cantatas; Arias
Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Of the works by Handel presented here, three are cantatas devoted to the Patron Saint of music, St. Cecilia, another is an Italian cantata that was probably presented for a private patron in Rome, while the remaining two works are drawn from Handel’s unique set of Neun Deutsche Arien (Nos. 4 & 6 in the supposed original numbering), composed around 1724 to texts by Barthold Heinrich Brockes, the Hamburg poet and city official whose vernacular text of the Passion was set to music by several eighteenth-century composers including Handel. Brockes himself was pleased to note of the German Arias that ‘the world-renowned virtuoso, Mr. Handel, set these to music in a very special manner.’ They have attracted many fine singers on record, but few with so acute a feeling for Handel’s word-painting as the tenor Robert Tear. The three Italian cantatas composed between 1707 and 1737 and sung by the great Welsh contralto Helen Watts, display the singer’s complete command of Italian, her flair for dramatic declamation and her highly sophisticated and agile coloratura technique, surprising perhaps to those who hear in her voice the typical heavier English “oratorio” contralto sound. The British harpsichordist, musicologist and conductor, Raymond Leppard directed these performances with Helen Watts from the harpsichord (built by Thomas Goff), with his colleagues of the English Chamber Orchestra providing stylish accompaniments. Watts lent distinction to many Handel recordings of the 1960s and 70s, including Messiah directed by Sir Colin Davis as well as pioneering recordings of Jephtha and Semele (reissued on Decca Eloquence 4825055).
‘Helen Watts, with her exceptionally flexible and well-focused contralto voice and excellent breath control fulfils the technical demands more than competently … Raymond Leppard gets wonderfully spirited playing from the English Chamber Orchestra … an immensely enjoyable record.’ Gramophone, April 1962
Handel: Carco sempre di gloria
Handel: Look Down, Harmonious Saint, HWV 124
Handel: Meine Seele hört im Sehen, HWV207
Handel: Splenda l’alba in oriente, cantata, HWV 166
Handel: Tu fedel? tu costante? (HWV 171)
Fast Delivery and professional packaging
Our long-standing relationships with UPS FedEx DHL and other international carriers gives us the ability to provide various shipping options. Our warehouse personnel is highly-skilled and will package your items according to our precise and exact specifications. Prior to shipping, your goods will be thoroughly examined and secured. We ship to hundreds of thousands of customers each day in different countries. This shows our commitment to becoming the biggest retailer online in the world. Warehouses and distribution centers can be found in Europe and the USA.
Note: Orders that contain more than one item will be assigned a separate processing period for each item.
Prior to shipment, we will examine thoroughly the items you've purchased. The majority of orders are shipped within 48 hours. The delivery time will be between 3-7 days.
Returns
We are not able to manage the stock in our warehouse and factory. The actual inventory may fluctuate at any time. It's possible that the stock may run out after the order has been made.
Our policy is valid for 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase and we are unable to offer an exchange or refund.
The item cannot be used and in its original condition. The item must be returned in its original packaging.
Related products
