Raffaele Pe; G Bridelli; A Mastroni; La Lira Di Orfeo
Description
Handel’s dramatic cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo is a serenata first performed in Naples in 1708 with a libretto by Niccola Giuvo after Book 13 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Handel adapted this score several times: The one-act masque Acis and Galatea (HWV 49), with an English text by John Gay, was first performed at Cannons in 1718.
This was followed by, among others, a version as a three-act serenata for the Italian opera company in London in 1732 and an adaptation of the original English work into a two-act work in 1739.
The so-called ‘Senesino version’ presented on this recording is based on a manuscript from the British library in London.
In this version probably written for the famous castrato Senesino, Aci is an alto and Galatea is a soprano, all arias of the two characters are transposed. Polifemo’s part is almost completely re-written, with long accompanied recitatives and new arias.
The instrumentation is slightly different from the Neapolitan version: No trumpets are present but a more extended use of woodwinds and recorders.
Tracklisting
Lina Tur Bonet, Musica Alchemica
Eduardo Eguez, La Compagnia del Madgriale
La Compagnia del Madrigale
Orchestra of the 18th Century; Frans Bruggen
Le Concert Spirituel; Herve Niquet
Graindelavoix; Bjorn Schmelzer; Manuel Mota
Jose Maria Lo Monaco; Stefano Aresi; Stile Galante
Orchestra of the 18th Century
Francesco Tropea
Christoph Timpe
caterva musica
Claudio Ronco; Emanuela Vozza
Phillipe Grisvard, Ensemble Diderot, Johannes Pramsohler
Alexander Grychtolik, Il Gardellino
Rebeka Ruso; Sebastian Wienand
Michael Oman; Austrian Baroque Company
