Nathalie Stutzmann, Philippe Jaroussky, Orfeo 55 - Handel: Heroes from the Shadows (2016) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Heroes from the Shadows makes stars of the unfairly overlooked roles – from Arsamene to Zenobia – who sing Handel’s hidden operatic jewels: Cornelia from Giulio Cesare (‘Son nata’ in duet with star countertenor Philippe Jaroussky as her guest), Dardano’s stately ‘Pena tiranna’ from Amadigi di Gaula, and the sublime, intimate ‘Senti, bell’idol mio’ sung by Claudio in Silla. Stutzmann conducts her superb musicians playing on Baroque instruments, while singing some of Handel’s most virtuosic arias, all with a rare mastery of both arts – neither one in the shadow of the other. “From early on in my career, I’ve had the fortune of being invited to play the star roles for contralto in these great Handel operas – be it Caesar, Orlando, Radamisto or others,” she explains. “But I dreamed of the tantalising possibilities of immersing myself in the shadows of these works; shedding light on this repertoire of second or even third-tier background roles, often forgotten by audiences as they leave the theatre, but who captivated them for a few minutes from the edges of the main action. They’re a little like the actors that pop up in films, whose names we know and whose voices we recognise but we struggle to recall their names…”

"A conductor as well as a singer, the French contralto Nathalie Stutzmann founded her own chamber ensemble, Orfeo 55, in 2009. Their first album together for Erato is this splendid Handel recital… There’s no mistaking either her musicianship or her commitment here, while Orfeo 55, clearly a force to be reckoned with, play superbly for her. " -The Guardian

TRACKLIST

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759)

01. Poro, HWV 28, Act 3: Sinfonia (01:05)
02. Ariodante, HWV 33, Act 3: "Dover, giustizia, amor" (Polinesso) (03:29)
03. Orlando, HWV 31, Act 3: Sinfonia (01:01)
04. Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11, Act 2: "Pena tiranna" (Dardano) (05:35)
05. Alessandro, HWV 21, Act 3: "Saro qual vento" (Cleone) (02:22)
06. Serse, HWV 40, Act 1: "Non so se sia la speme" (Arsamene) (05:20)
07. Partenope, HWV 27, Act 3: Sinfonia (00:34)
08. Radamisto, HWV 12, Act 1: "Son contenta di morire" (Zenobia) (04:20)
09. Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: "Voi che udite il mio lamento" (Ottone) (05:39)
10. Tamerlano, HWV 18, Act 2: "Par che mi nasca in seno" (Irene) (07:02)
11. Scipione, HWV 20, Act 3: Sinfonia (01:24)
12. Giulio Cesare, HWV 17, Act 2 "L'aure che spira" (Cornelia) (04:29)
13. Serse, HWV 40, Act 3: Sinfonia (03:05)
14. Giulio Cesare, HWV 17, Act 1: "Son nata/nato a lagrimar" (Cornelia, Sesto) (07:46)
15. Arianna in Creta, HWV 32, Act 2: "Son qual stanco pellegrino" (Alceste) (09:43)
16. Rodelinda, HWV 19, Act 3: "Se fiera belva ha cinto" (Bertarido) (04:41)
17. Silla, HWV 10, Act 1: "Senti, bell'idol mio" (Claudio) (04:48)
18. Partenope, HWV 27, Act 1: "Io seguo sol fiero" (Rosmira) (05:41)
19. Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11, Act 3: Ballo di pastori e pastorelle (01:25)

PERSONNEL
Nathalie Stutzmann - contralto & conductor
Philippe Jaroussky - countertenor
Orfeo 55