Handel - Ottone / Minter, Saffer, Gondek, Spence, Popken, Dean; McGegan [Box set]

Amazon.com
Most of Handel's operas have at least some ravishingly beautiful musical moments, some drearily dry stretches, and a lot of music that sounds as though it was recycled from another of his works--in most cases because it was. Ottone qualifies in all three respects; there's some worthwhile music in this opera, but this score is probably primarily for those already converted to the Handelian oeuvre. Most of the singing in this recording is quite respectable, if on the less robust side, but Drew Minter's light, sweet countertenor makes him utterly unconvincing as a German warrior prince. Nicholas McGegan does his usual fine, thoughtful job of conducting. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Handel - Ottone / Minter, Saffer, Gondek, Spence, Popken, Dean; McGegan,George Frideric Handel,Freiburg Baroque Orchestra,Nicholas McGegan,Lisa Saffer,Patricia Spence,Drew Minter,Juliana Gondek,Harmonia Mundi,Classical,Classical Music,Italian Baroque Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

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Average customer rating: ignore the Amazon reviewer Pay No Attention to That Reviewer Behind the Curtain

Handel - Ottone / Minter, Saffer, Gondek, Spence, Popken, Dean; McGegan George Frideric Handel , Freiburg Baroque Orchestra , Nicholas McGegan , Lisa Saffer , Patricia Spence , Drew Minter , and Juliana Gondek Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000007DH Release Date: 1993-08-26

Tracks:

1. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Overture: (Lentement-Allegro)
2. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Overture: Gavotte
3. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Cavatina: Pur che regni (Gismonda)
4. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Chi piu lieto e di me? (Adelberto, Gismonda)
5. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: La speranza e giunta in porto (Gismonda)
6. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Vien di Romano inclita figlia (Adelberto, Teofane)
7. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Bel labbro formato (Adelberto)
8. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: E tale Otton? (Teofane)
9. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Falsa immagine (Teofane)
10. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Concerto
11. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Te, che assalir le nostre navi osasti (Ottone, Emireno)
12. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Del minacciar del vento (Emireno)
13. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Tutto a piu liete cure (Ottone, Matilda)
14. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Ritorna, o dolce amore (Ottone)
15. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Anch'io sperai (Matilda)
16. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Diresti poi cosi? (Matilda)
17. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Tu la madre d'Otton? (Teofane, Gismonda)
18. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Pensa ad amare (Gismonda)
19. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Adelaide, di cui con tanta lode; Indietro, indietro (Teofane, Adelberto, Gismonda)
20. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Giunge Otton? (Teofane)
21. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Affanni del pensier (Teofane)
22. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Sinfonia
23. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: Cedi il ferro, o la vita (Ottone, Adelberto)
24. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Tu puoi straziarmi (Adelberto)
25. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Recit: E di piu mio rival? (Ottone)
26. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act One: Aria: Dell'onda ai fieri moti (Ottone)

Tracks:

1. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Sinfonia
2. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: Per breve spazio a me colui (Matilda, Adelberto, Gismonda)
3. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Lascia, che nel suo viso (Adelberto)
4. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: (Ah! che piu non resisto.) (Matilda, Gismonda)
5. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Ah! tu non sai (Matilda)
6. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: Ah, Matilda, Matilda (Gismonda)
7. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Vieni, o figlio (Gismonda)
8. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Spera si (Teofane)
9. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: (Quegli, e certo il mio sposo.) (Teofane, Ottone, Matilda)
10. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: All'orror d'un duolo eterno (Matilda)
11. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: O illustre Teofane (Ottone, Teofane)
12. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Alla fama (Teofane)
13. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: Con gelosi sospetti (Ottone)
14. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Dopo l'orrore (Ottone)
15. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Accompagnato: O grati orrori (Teofane)
16. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: S'io dir potessi (Teofane)
17. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: Del gran sasso (Emireno, Adelberto)
18. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Le profonde vie dell'onde (Emireno)
19. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: (Odo gente) (Adelberto, Matilda, Ottone, Teofane)
20. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Aria: Deh! non dir (Ottone)
21. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: Gia d'ogni interno (Emireno, Adelberto, Teofane)
22. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Recit: Odo il suono (Gismonda, Matilda)
23. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Two: Duetto: Notte cara (Gismonda, Matilda)

Tracks:

1. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: Dove sei (Ottone)
2. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Gia t'invola (Gismonda, Ottone)
3. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: Trema, tiranno (Gismonda)
4. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Accompagnato: Io son tradito (Ottone)
5. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: Tanti affanni (Ottone)
6. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Sinfonia
7. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Empi, al vostro attentato (Teofane, Adelberto, Emireno)
8. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: D'innalzar i flutti (Adelberto)
9. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Perche in vita tornai? (Teofane, Emireno, Adelberto)
10. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Si, mi traete alme (Teofane)
11. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: Benche mi sia crudele (Teofane)
12. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Deh! ti trattiene (Emireno, Teofane)
13. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: No, non temere, o bella (Emireno)
14. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Pur cangiasti alla fin (Teofane)
15. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: Gode l'alma consolata (Teofane)
16. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Uno de'servi miei (Matilda, Ottone, Gismonda)
17. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Aria: Nel suo sangue (Matilda)
18. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Matilda, arresta il piede (Emireno, Adelberto, Gismonda, Matilda, Ottone)
19. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Frena, crudel (Teofane, Ottone)
20. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Duetto: A'teneri affetti (Teofane, Ottone)
21. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Recit: Ma qual caso (Ottone, Teofane, Emireno, Gismonda, Matilda, Adelberto)
22. Ottone, Re Di Germania: Act Three: Coro: Faccia ritorno l'antica pace (Tutti)

Amazon.com

Most of Handel's operas have at least some ravishingly beautiful musical moments, some drearily dry stretches, and a lot of music that sounds as though it was recycled from another of his works--in most cases because it was. Ottone qualifies in all three respects; there's some worthwhile music in this opera, but this score is probably primarily for those already converted to the Handelian oeuvre. Most of the singing in this recording is quite respectable, if on the less robust side, but Drew Minter's light, sweet countertenor makes him utterly unconvincing as a German warrior prince. Nicholas McGegan does his usual fine, thoughtful job of conducting. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

ignore the Amazon reviewer.......2005-02-17

After listening to this fine recording of another Handel masterpiece, you will in fact discover very little if any repeated material.

A must-have for any Handel admirer.

Pay No Attention to That Reviewer Behind the Curtain.......2002-07-15

This is, with all due respect to the reviewer alluded to above, one stupendous work. Handel is a diety to me, and his operas my life's blood; that said, not all are as consistently engaging as Ottone (though even at his most ordinary, Handel is pretty terrific). As with so many operas of the period, the story of Ottone (or Otto, if you prefer) is loosely derived from history, but this one offers a particularly sharp libretto and rather less contrivance than usual. Musically there isn't a dull bar in the score, and much of it (particulary act II) staggers the mind with its inventiveness. Had Handel written nothing else than the aria "Vieni, O Figlio," in which a scheming mother consoles her son whom, she believes, is about to be executed, he still would have been counted among music's immortals. The casting is superb with excellent vocal characterization from all involved and exceptionally beautiful singing from Juliana Gondek. Drew Minter's voice is a tad white for me, but he brings a sympathy and humanity to the title character. Nicholas McGegan has often been taken to task for overfast tempi and here he seems, if anything, to exceed himself (the overture is breathless) with the result that some of the arias end up sounding a bit like Gilbert and Sullivan patter songs; but no matter. Even for those not yet converted to the cause, this is a 5-star recording of 5-star Handel. Bravos all around!

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