Hallelujah! I have long hoped that someone would give us a complete recording of Handel’s cantatas. We have had multiple complete recordings of Bach’s cantatas, but most of Handel’s remain unrecorded. And it is the cantatas with instrumental accompaniment that have received the overwhelming attention of the recording industry. Glossa is currently finishing its series of recordings of the instrumental cantatas. The cantatas accompanied by continuo, …
Some rarely heard Handelian treasures are charmingly performed The second volume in Contrasto Armonico’s complete Handel cantatas project presents what seem to be two premiere recordings: “O lucenti, o sereni occhi” and “Aure soavi e liete”. Both are expertly accompanied by harpsichordist Marco Vitale and cellist Marta Semkiw, and confirm that this most neglected sphere of Handel’s output contains plenty of treasures for those willing to …
