Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu - La Francesina, Handel's nightingale (2020) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Interesting journey that the one of Elisabeth Duparc (?? - 1778). Born in France and educated in Italy, she finally found glory in London. The „Francesina“ (The little French) counted as one of Händel’s last muses at this moment when he was progressively abandoning the splendour of the Italian opera for the spiritual elevation of the oratorio. At the time, Duparc is one of the rare French singers never to perform in her mother tongue. Händel wrote for her roles in Italian or English, including Semele, Iole (Hercules), Deidamia, Romilda (Serse), and Penseroso (Allegro, il Penseroso e il Moderato). Her contemporaries praised her tone and agility, and the testimonies of Mrs Granville - Delany or Charles Burney are spread over the qualities of her “warbling voice“ (the voice of a warbler). Handel mainly composed for her „nightingale“ arias such as “The morning lark“ (Semele) or “Nasconde the usignol“ (Deidamia).

In this program, the Belgian soprano Sophie Junker pays tribute to La Francesina and celebrates the thriving collaboration that bound her to Händel for over a decade. From opera to oratorio, this recital aims to bring to light both the voice of this singular muse and show how Händel achieves a dramatic transition between Italian opera and English oratorio. Here, Sophie Junker will be the „Nuova Francesina“ echoing Duparc in this lavish repertoire with the same energy.

TRACKLIST

1. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Joseph and his Brethren, HWV 59, Act II Scene 2: Prophetic raptures swell my breast (Asenath)
2. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Ode to St. Cecilia's day, HWV 76: What passion cannot raise and quell!
3. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Deidamia, HWV 42, Act II Scene 9: Và, perfido ! Quel cor mi tradirà (Deidamia)
4. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Belshazzar, HWV 61: Sinfonia "Allegro Postillons"
5. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Semele, HWV 58, Act III Scene 3: Myself I shall adore (Semele)
6. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Semele, HWV 58: Overture
7. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Hercules, HWV 60, Act I Scene 5: My father! Ah! (Iole)
8. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - The Occasional Oratorio, HWV 62: Musette from "Sinfonia"
9. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Faramondo, HWV 39, Act I Scene 15: Mi parto lieta sulla tua fede! (Clotilde)
10. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Saul, HWV 53, Act III Scene 5: In sweetest harmony they lived (Michal)
11. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Deidamia, HWV 42, Act I Scene 5: Nasconde l'usignol in alto rami il nido (Deidamia)
12. Sophie Junker, Le Concert de l'Hostel Dieu & Franck-Emmanuel Comte - Serse, HWV 40, Act I Scene 7: Nè men con l'ombre d'infedeltà" (Romilda)



Thanks to the Original customer.