Our Money-Back Guarantee
George Frideric Handel: Faramondo (2009)
by Duilio Galfetti (violin), Fulvio Bettini (baritone), In-Sung Sim (bass), Marina De Liso (mezzo-soprano), Max Emanuel Cencic (counter tenor), Philippe Jaroussky (counter tenor), Sophie Karthäuser (soprano), Terry Wey (counter tenor)
Until it was revived in the late twentieth century, Handel's opera Faramondo was performed just eight times in London in 1738 and then fell into obscurity. According to the conventions of Italian opera of the period, men's roles were often written for women, in spite of the lack of dramatic realism, and the use of castrati was common, so higher voices strongly predominate. Handel wrote the title role, which would have gone to a castrato, usually a male alto, for Cafarelli, who had the range of a mezzo-soprano. This recording is exceptional in its use of countertenors in all the male roles, and it's intriguing to hear together the variety of voice types lumped together as "countertenors"; the singers here are distinctly males altos, mezzo sopranos and sopranos. The early twenty first century is blessed with an abundance of extraordinarily fine countertenors, and the singers on this recording are exceptional, with voices of great tonal fullness and purity, agility, and individuality. Max Emanuel Cencic... Hide synopsis
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2013 Rovi Corporation.