Stephen_Murray's Full Review: Handel: Arias / Bryn Terfel
Writing about Welsh baritone/bass Bryn Terfel's all-Mozart album stimulated pulling his all-Handel disc off the shelf. For one thing, I wanted to make sure that the CD had a booklet with the lyrics and translations into English of those not already in English. (It does.)
There are three reasons that I like the Terfel Handel album even more than the Terfel Mozart one. First, partly as a residue of my adolescent suspicion of music between the baroque era and modernism, Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759) has an even higher place in my pantheon of composers than Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791), though I like Mozart operas more than Handel ones. Second, the music for bass that Handel wrote and that Terfel recorded here is more stirring/impressive than the Mozart on the Terfel disc. And third, I prefer the clumping of pieces from the same composition that organizes the Handel disc to the puzzling weaning in of pieces from Mozart operas (even extending to taking music from more than one role in the Mozart operas). Plus the Handel disc has more total music (about twelve minutes more than the Mozart).
The Mozart disc includes some other singers in duets and one divine trio. The Handel one is all Terfel with two arias each from "Judas Maccabaeus," "Orlando," "Acis and Galatea," and "Serse" (including "Ombra mai fu," Handel's greatest hit from an opera). There is one aria each from the "Te Deum in D," "Samson, "Berenice," "Alcina," "Semele", "Alexander's Feast," and "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" (Handel wrote a lot of operas, most of which I have never heard in their entirety). And it closes with five cuts from the Easter half of "The Messiah" (Handel's greatest hit of all, which I have heard innumerable times as well as playing (orchestra) and singing (chorus).)
I also played the melody of "Ombra mai fu" on the violin (once upon a time). It is the most beautiful shade in music (with the brief lead-in of the leaves of the tree). On this disc, this is like an oasis before the apocalyptic set of cuts from the last part of "The Messiah." I also particularly like Julius Caesar's lilting "Va tacito e nascosto" (when intent on his prey) with the baritone and trumpet repeating some figures.
I also especially enjoy the taunting aria from "Samson" with a remarkably good-natured sound for "Though I could end thee at a blow" (and a drop to very low register for various iterations of "I disdain").
"The Messiah" part includes two recitatives, the first about shaking Heaven[s] and earth, the second leading into the judgment commencing the Last Judgment. "Behold, I tell you a Mystery: We shall not all sleep" is sung piano, the rest of the sentence forte: "but we shall be changed, in a Moment, in the Twinkling of an Eye, at the last Trumpet."
The trumpet (and orchestra) does sound before the baritone continues "The Trumpet shall sound, and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible." As in "Va tacito e nascosto," I love the interplay of baritone and trumpet (sometimes both are going, though not in unison; other phrases of one are repeated by the other). The Last Judgment makes for a Big Finish for the disc, for sure! With a major ritard of the final "We shall be changed" (followed by a final trumpet and orchestra volley up-tempo, though not quite back to the tempo before that ritard).
Terfel has the suppleness required of a soloist in baroque (and rococo) music and the heroic force of a Wagner one. (I have never heard him sing anything between Mozart and Wagner, so am not sure his voice has the suppleness for Rossini and Bellini, but wouldn't bet against him.)
The estimable Sir Charles Mackerras supplely (sorry to repeat forms of the word, but it is le mot juste here!) leads the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in both recordings. And I think that anyone who enjoys bass/baritone solos unmoored from their settings would treasure this recording. (Moreover, the final "Messiah" part of the disc is not far from its original context).
And it may lead hearers to check out some of that profusion of Handel operas! It makes me curious about the "Te Deum" (HWV 283).
Tracks and timings
Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 - I Feel, I Feel The Deity Within 1:05
Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 - Arm, Arm Ye Brave! 3:26
Te Deum In D, HWV 283, "Dettingen" - Vouchsafe, O Lord 2:17
Samson, HWV 57 - Honour & Arms Scorn Such A Foe 5:51
Berenice, Regina D'Egitto, HWV 38 - Sė, Tra I Ceppi E Le Ritorte 4:17
Alcina, HWV 34 - Verdi Prati, Selve Amene 3:51
Orlando, HWV 31 - O Voi, Del Mio Poter 1:15
Orlando, HWV 31 - Sorge Infausta Una Procella 4:39
Acis & Galatea, HWV 49 - I Rage, I Melt, I Burn! 1:27
Acis & Galatea, HWV 49 - O Ruddier Than The Cherry 3:02
Semele, HWV 58 - Where'Er You Walk 4:37
Alexander's Feast, HWV 75 - Revenge, Revenge, Timotheus Cries; Behold A Ghastly Band 7:19
Giulio Cesare In Egitto, HWV 17 - Va Tacito E Nascosto 6:16
Serse, HWV 40 - Frondi Tenere E Belle 0:47
Serse, HWV 40 - Ombra Mai Fu 3:03
Messiah, HWV 56 - Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts 1:31
Messiah, HWV 56 - But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming 4:20
Messiah, HWV 56 - Why Do The Nations 4:54
Messiah, HWV 56 - Behold, I Tell You A Mystery 0:37
Messiah, HWV 56 - The Trumpet Shall Sound 8:51
(About half are written and sung in Italian, half in English.)
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