Handel: Silla / Darlow, Bowman, Baker, Lunn, Nicholls, Et Al

$24.99
Label
SOMM Recordings
Release Date
February 1, 2000
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      HANDEL, GEORGE FRIDERIC
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      London Handel Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      Bowman, Lunn, Baker, Nichools, Marsh, Cragg, Dixon, Darlow
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      February 01, 2000
    • UPC
      748871227828
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      SOMMCD 227-8
    • LABEL
      SOMM Recordings
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Opera / Operetta / Oratorio
    Works ⌄

    1. Overture: Largo - Allegro -Adagio

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    2. Overture: Andante - Adagio

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    3. Overture: Minuet

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    4. Overture: March

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    5. Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Silla, s'oggi risplende (Metella, Lepido, Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls, Joanne Lunn, James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    6. Act I Scene 1: Aria: Alza il volo la mia fama (Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    7. Act I Scene 2: Recitative: S'ecclissa la mia gioia! (Metella, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    8. Act I Scene 2: Aria: Fuggon l'aure in me di vita (Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    9. Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Cieli, numi! che vidi? (Flavia, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    10. Act I Scene 3: Aria: Se ben tuona il ciel irato (Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    11. Act I Scene 4: Recitative: Sin con lingua di foco (Celia, Flavia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Elizabeth Cragg, Natasha Marsh

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    12. Act I Scene 4: Aria: Un sol raggio di speranza (Flavia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    13. Act I Scene 5: Recitative: Sino su li occhi miei (Celia, Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Elizabeth Cragg, Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    14. Act I Scene 5: Aria: Senti, bell’idol mio! (Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    15. Act I Scene 6: Si, t'amo, oh caro, e pur io son costretta (Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    16. Act I Scene 6: Aria: Se la speranza nudrisce il mio cor (Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    17. Act I Scene 7: Recitative: Silla, dov'e la gloria (Claudio, Silla, Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker, James Bowman, Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    18. Act I Scene 7: Aria: Con tromba guerriera (Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    19. Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Flavia! … Signor, la tua grandezza ammira (Silla, Flavia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Natasha Marsh

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    20. Act II Scene 1: Aria: Qual scoglio in mezzo all'onde (Flavia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    21. Act II Scene 2: Recitative: T'arresta, altera! Ma pietoso Amore (Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    22. Act II Scene 2: Aria: Dolce nume de' mortali (Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    23. Act II Scene 3: Aria: Guerra, stragi e furor! (Il Dio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Chris Dixon

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    24. Act II Scene 5: Recitative: Silla! ove ti guida (Lepido, Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Joanne Lunn, James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    25. Act II Scene 5: Aria: E tempo, oh luci belle (Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    26. Act II Scene 6: Recitative: Mio diletto, che pensi? (Flavia, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    27. Act II Scene 6: Duet: Sol per te, bell'idol mio (Flavia, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    28. Act II Scene 7: Recitative: Bella, lascia i sospiri! (Claudio, Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker, Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    29. Act II Scene 7: Aria: Mi brilla nel seno (Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    30. Act II Scene 8: Recitative: Mio bel nume, t'arresta! (Silla, Metella, Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Rachel Nicholls, Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    31. Act II Scene 8: Aria: Hai due vaghe pupillette (Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    32. Act II Scene 9: Recitative: Che miro, oh Dei? Qui Silla? (Flavia, Silla, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh, James Bowman, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    33. Act II Scene 10: Duet: Ti lascio, idolo mio (Flavia, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    34. Act II Scene 11: Recitative: Anima mia! … Mio caro! (Claudio, Celia, Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker, Elizabeth Cragg, James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    35. Act II Scene 12: Recitative: Snabro! Lepido sia da' stral traffitto (Silla, Scabro)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    36. Act II Scene 12: Aria: La vendetta e un cibo al cor (Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    37. Act II Scene 13: Recitative: Oh! perfido consorte (Metella, Scabro)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    38. Act II Scene 14: Aria: Se'l mio mal da voi dipende (Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    39. Act II Scene 15: Recitative: Si, questi son trofei, pero imperfetti - Scene 16: Recitative: Deh! corri al tuo signore! (Silla, Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    40. Act II Scene 17: Aria: Secondate, oh giusti dei (Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    41. Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Quanto devo, oh Metella, al tuo cor generoso (Lepido, Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Joanne Lunn, Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    42. Act III Scene 2: Aria: Io non ti chiedo più, o sposo amato (Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    43. Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Al tua fedeltade, o caro amino (Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    44. Act III Scene 3: Aria: Gia respira in petto i core (Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    45. Act III Scene 4: Recitative: L'imper quanto e pio vasto e più pesante (Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    46. Act III Scene 5: Recitative: Placasti, oh bella diva, il tuo rigore? (Silla, Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    47. Act III Scene 5: Aria: Sei gia morto, idolo mio (Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    48. Act III Scene 6: Recitative: Rimembranze funeste (Celia, Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Elizabeth Cragg, Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    49. Act III Scene 6: Aria: Luci belle, serene stelle (Claudio)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Simon Baker

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    50. Act III Scene 7: Aria: Stelle rubelle, a torto moriro (Flavia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    51. Act III Scene 8: Recitative: Al fin, del mio rigore (Silla, Flavia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Natasha Marsh

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    52. Act III Scene 9: Recitative: Spirto adorato, oh Dio! (Flavia, Lepido)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Natasha Marsh, Joanne Lunn

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    53. Act III Scene 10: Recitative: Metella, oh Dio! Qual sento (Silla, Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    54. Act III Scene 10: Duet: Non s'estingue mail la fiamma (Metella, Silla)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls, James Bowman

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    55. Act III Scene 11: Recitative: Propizio arrida il cielo (Metella)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Rachel Nicholls

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    56. Act III Scene 12: Recitative: Pera la feritade! (Lepido, Claudio, All)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: Joanne Lunn, Simon Baker, James Bowman, Rachel Nicholls, Natasha Marsh, Elizabeth Cragg, Chris Dixon

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    57. Act III Scene 12: Sinfonia

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    58. Act III Scene 12: Recitative: De' miei falli pentito (Silla, Lepido, Flavia, Celia)

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Joanne Lunn, Natasha Marsh, Elizabeth Cragg

      Conductor: Denys Darlow

    59. Act III Scene 12: Chorus: Chi al trova tra procelle

      Composer: George Frideric Handel

      Ensemble: London Handel Orchestra

      Performer: James Bowman, Simon Baker, Joanne Lunn, Rachel Nicholls, Natasha Marsh, Elizabeth Cragg, Chris Dixon

      Conductor: Denys Darlow


An admirable performance of a rare work.

‘The worst libretto Handel ever set … the construction is clumsy, the characterisation incredible,’ wrote Winton Dean, with his typical panache, in his and Merrill Knapp’s classic book on the earlier Handel operas. Never mind: if one is prepared to accept that Handel’s dramatic muse sometimes nodded, and just enjoy the music for what it is, Silla is amply worth a hearing. It had its first English revival in spring 2000, in the Handel series that Denys Darlow directs at the Royal College of Music, and the present recording is a by-product of those performances.

The opera, probably Handel’s shortest, dates from 1713 and seems, oddly, to have been written for a private performance at the main London opera house in honour of a new French Ambassador – although there is no certainty that the performance actually took place. The plot, an absurd farrago about the Roman dictator Sulla (‘Silla’ is the Italianised form), here a ruthless murderer who makes unsuccessful grabs at two of the three women in the cast (the third is his wife) and then suddenly repents, seems decidedly inappropriate for a festive occasion, or indeed any occasion at all. It’s the kind of libretto that has got baroque opera a bad name. Its sole merit – and this is quite important – is that it does allow opportunities for a considerable range of musical expression.

Curiously, however, Handel doesn’t seem to have been fully alert to those opportunities. Sulla himself, for example, gets music more amiable than so odious a character seems to deserve (including a truly lovely ‘sleep song’, with recorders), and the music for his wife Metella is often absurdly at odds with the text and her situation. But there are many attractive numbers, notably some telling music for the two pairs of lovers who find themselves threatened by Sulla’s importunities – Lepido and Flavia have two duets, the second a miniature but intensely poignant F minor Adagio, while Celia grieves the (supposed) death of her Claudio in a heartfelt G minor sarabande.

The mainly youthful cast here – these performances traditionally give opportunities to promising young singers – are very successful and I am sure we will hear a lot more of some of them. Rachel Nicholls sings Metella’s music in a pleasant, natural and very even voice, strong and resolute in the big aria that ends Act 2. As Celia, Elizabeth Cragg shows a lighter voice with a hint of an attractively grainy quality; Natasha Marsh’s full and rounded voice rings out to excellent effect in Flavia’s arias.

Except for the brief appearance of ‘Il Dio’, an odd kind of god who encourages Sulla’s ferocity in his dream vision (ably taken by Christopher Dixon), there are no true male voices. Lepido is sung by Joanne Lunn in a fresh, bright voice, accurate and rhythmic; Claudio is taken by Simon Brown, a capable and fluent countertenor with a strong and clear top register and much subtlety in handling details of stress and timing. He has a fine aria with trumpet to end Act 1. Sulla himself is sung by a Handelian of considerable and obvious experience – a fine model for the young members of the cast: James Bowman shows his knowledge of how to shape and colour Handel’s lines and (as in the fiery Act 2 aria) to sing forcefully and still musically. The voice rings well even if the lower register now has a little less character.

All the singers add a little, generally discreet ornamentation in the da capo sections. Denys Darlow, as always, conducts in a direct and unaffected fashion, showing consideration for the singers and understanding of Handel, with a good range of tempos and with spruce, lively rhythms. Handelians will not want to miss this chance of hearing a rare work admirably performed.'

-- Stanley Sadie, Gramophone [3/2001]