Name: 50 Best Handel by Various Artists
Brand: Various Artists
SKU: 5099907082252
Price: 9.9 USD
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Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Virgin Classics' 2011 compilation Best Handel 50 is a generous triple-disc package that provides a broad sampling of the works of George Frederick Handel, one of the titans of Baroque music. Each disc represents a different aspect of Handel's prodigious output: disc 1 presents arias from the Italian operas, which brought Handel his first fortune and fame in England; disc 2 draws on his orchestral and instrumental works, including the Water Music and the Music for the Royal Fireworks; and disc 3 offers vocal and choral excerpts from the sacred oratorios and anthems, masterpieces of his later career that brought him lasting popularity. The 50 tracks are drawn from the extensive EMI catalog, and include many historically informed interpretations by prominent period ensembles and choirs, among more traditional readings. For the most part, the recordings are all-digital, except for two analog selections, which have been digitally mastered, so the sound quality is clean and clear throughout. This set is not essential for listeners who already have good coverage of Handel's major works in their collections, though beginners and casual classical listeners may find this collection a helpful survey, as well as pleasant background music.

Volume 1

1. Rinaldo, HWV 7b, Act II Scene 4: Lascia ch'io pianga

by Kirk Trevor, Jane Gilchrist

Featured Artist: Jane Gilchrist; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Kirk Trevor; Main Performer
Soprano: Jane Gilchrist; Performer
Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Kirk Trevor; Conductor

2. Ariodante, HWV 33, Act II: Scherza, infida

by Philippe Jaroussky

Primary Artist: Philippe Jaroussky; Main Performer
Countertenor: Philippe Jaroussky; Performer
Orchestra: Le Concert D'astrée; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Emmanuelle Haim; Conductor

3. Arianna in Creta, HWV 32: "Ove son... Qui ti sfido" (Teseo)

by Philippe Jaroussky, Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert D'astrée

Primary Artist: Le Concert D'astrée
Emmanuelle Haim
Philippe Jaroussky; Main Performer
Countertenor: Philippe Jaroussky; Performer
Orchestra: Le Concert D'astrée; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Emmanuelle Haïm; Conductor
Producer: Daniel Zalay; Production

4. Radamisto, HWV 12a, Act II, Scene 2: Aria. "Ombra caro di mia sposa" (Radamisto)

by Alan Curtis, Joyce Didonato

Featured Artist: Joyce Didonato; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Alan Curtis; Main Performer
Soprano: Joyce Didonato; Performer
Orchestra: Il Complesso Barocco; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Alan Curtis; Conductor

5. Orlando, HWV 31, Act II: Verdi allori

by Max Emanuel Cencic, Diego Fasolis, I Barocchisti

Primary Artist: Max Emanuel Cencic
Diego Fasolis
I Barocchisti; Main Performer
Countertenor: Max Emanuel Cencic; Performer
Ensemble: I Barocchisti; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Diego Fasolis; Conductor

6. Arminio, HWV 36, Act II Scene 3: Duri lacci, voi non siete

by Alan Curtis, Vivica Genaux

Featured Artist: Vivica Genaux; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Alan Curtis; Main Performer
Mezzo-soprano: Vivica Genaux; Performer
Ensemble: Il Complesso Barocco; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Alan Curtis; Conductor

7. Serse, HWV 40, Act I Scene 1: Ombra mai fù

by Gérard Lesne, Il Seminario Musicale, Johann Michael Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Cristoph Bach

Primary Artist: Gerard Lesne
Il Seminario Musicale; Main Performer
Countertenor: Gérard Lesne; Performer
Ensemble: Il Seminario Musicale; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer

8. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Act 1: "Cara speme, questo core" (Sesto)

by David Daniels, Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, Sir Roger Norrington

Countertenor: David Daniels; Performer
Primary Artist: Sir Roger Norrington
Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
David Daniels; Main Performer
Orchestra: Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington; Conductor
Audio Engineer: Arne Akselberg; Production
Editor: Simon Kiln; Production
Executive Producer: Alain Lanceron; Production
Producer: John Fraser; Production

9. Teseo, HWV 9, Act 2 Scene 1: No. 9, Arioso e Recitativo, "Dolce riposo! … Sempre fù a me tiranno" (Medea)

by Joyce Didonato, Christophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques

Boy Soprano: Joyce Didonato; Performer
Primary Artist: Joyce Didonato/christophe Rousset/les Talens Lyriques
Joyce Didonato; Main Performer
Lead Vocals: Joyce Di Donato
Christophe Rousset
Les Talens Lyriques; Performer
Mezzo-soprano: Joyce Di Donato
Joyce Didonato; Performer
Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques; Ensemble
Composer: Georg Friedrich Händel
George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Christophe Rousset; Conductor

10. Alcina, HWV 34, Act I Scene 15: Tornami a vagheggiar

by Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy

Featured Artist: Eiddwen Harrhy; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Richard Hickox; Main Performer
Soprano: Eiddwen Harrhy; Performer
Orchestra: City Of London Baroque Sinfonia; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Richard Hickox; Conductor

11. Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2 Scene 13: Ombre pallide

by Richard Hickox, Arleen Augér

Featured Artist: Arleen Augér; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Richard Hickox; Main Performer
Soprano: Arleen Augér; Performer
Orchestra: City Of London Baroque Sinfonia; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Richard Hickox; Conductor

12. Duetto: Son nata a lagrimar

by Stephanie Blythe/david Daniels/emmanuelle Haïm/martin Isepp/john Nelson/ensemble Orchestral De Paris

Harpsichord: Emmanuelle Haïm
Martin Isepp; Performer
Primary Artist: Stephanie Blythe/david Daniels/emmanuelle Haïm/martin Isepp/john Nelson/ensemble Orchestral De Paris; Main Performer
Lead Vocals: John Nelson
Emmanuelle Haim
Martin Isepp
Ensemble Orchestral De Paris; Performer
Vocals: David Daniels
Stephanie Blythe; Performer
Ensemble: Ensemble Orchestral De Paris; Ensemble
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: John Nelson; Conductor
Producer: Etiénne Collard; Production

Volume 2

1. Keyboard Suite in D Minor, HWV 437: III. Sarabande (Orch. Hale)

by Alexander Briger

Primary Artist: Alexander Briger; Main Performer
Orchestra: Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields; Ensemble
Arranger: Simon Hale; Composer
Composer: George Frideric Handel; Composer
Conductor: Alexander Briger; Conductor

50 Best Handel

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Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Volume 1

1. Rinaldo, HWV 7b, Act II Scene 4: Lascia ch'io pianga

2. Ariodante, HWV 33, Act II: Scherza, infida

3. Arianna in Creta, HWV 32: "Ove son... Qui ti sfido" (Teseo)

4. Radamisto, HWV 12a, Act II, Scene 2: Aria. "Ombra caro di mia sposa" (Radamisto)

5. Orlando, HWV 31, Act II: Verdi allori

6. Arminio, HWV 36, Act II Scene 3: Duri lacci, voi non siete

7. Serse, HWV 40, Act I Scene 1: Ombra mai fù

8. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Act 1: "Cara speme, questo core" (Sesto)

9. Teseo, HWV 9, Act 2 Scene 1: No. 9, Arioso e Recitativo, "Dolce riposo! … Sempre fù a me tiranno" (Medea)

10. Alcina, HWV 34, Act I Scene 15: Tornami a vagheggiar

11. Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2 Scene 13: Ombre pallide

12. Duetto: Son nata a lagrimar

Volume 2

1. Keyboard Suite in D Minor, HWV 437: III. Sarabande (Orch. Hale)

2. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: I. Overture:Largo-Allegro

3. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: II. Adagio e staccato

4. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: III. [Allegro]

5. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: VI. Air

6. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: VIII. Bourée

7. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: IX. Hornpipe

8. Water Music, Suite No.1 in F major: X. [Allegro moderato]

9. Water Music, Suite No.2 in D major: XII. Alla Hornpipe

10. Water Music, Suite No.2 in D major: XIII. Minuet

11. Water Music, Suite No.3 in G major: XVII - Rigaudon

12. Water Music, Suite No.3 in G major: XIX - Menuet

13. Music for the Royal Fireworks: II. Bourrée

14. Music for the Royal Fireworks: III. Largo alla siciliana

15. Music for the Royal Fireworks: IV. La Réjouissance

16. Concerto grosso in B flat Op. 3 No. 2 (HWV 313): I. Vivace

17. Concerto grosso in B flat Op. 3 No. 2 (HWV 313): II. Largo

18. Concerto grosso in B flat Op. 3 No. 2 (HWV 313): III. Allegro

19. Concerto Grosso in F major Op. 3 No. 4 (HWV 315): II. Andante

20. Concerto Grosso in F major Op. 3 No. 4 (HWV 315): III. Allegro

21. Concerto Grosso in A Minor, HWV 322 (No. 4 from "12 Concerti grossi", Op. 6): I. Larghetto affettuoso

22. Concerto Grosso in A Minor, HWV 322 (No. 4 from "12 Concerti grossi", Op. 6): II. Allegro

23. Concerto Grosso in A Minor, HWV 322 (No. 4 from "12 Concerti grossi", Op. 6): III. Largo e piano

24. Concerto Grosso in A Minor, HWV 322 (No. 4 from "12 Concerti grossi", Op. 6): IV. Allegro

25. Trio Sonata in G Major, Op. 5 No. 4, HWV 399: II. A tempo ordinario - Allegro non presto

26. Solomon, HWV 67, Act 3: No. 42, Sinfonia, "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba"

27. Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E Major, HWV 430: IV. Air con Variazioni, "The Harmonious Blacksmith" (from "Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin I", 1720) [1996 Digital Remaster]

Volume 3

1. Coronation Anthems HWV258-61: Zadok the Priest HWV 258

2. Messiah, HWV 56, Part One: "Comfort ye my people" (Tenor)

3. Messiah, Part Two: He was despised (alto)

4. Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: No. 39, Chorus, "Hallelujah"

5. Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline (The Ways of Zion do mourn), HWV 264: No. 2, Chorus, (a) "Sons of Israel do mourn" (Chorus)

6. La Resurrezione, HWV 47, Pt. 1: No. 13, Aria, "Cosi la tortorella talor piange" (San Giovanni)

7. Dixit Dominus, HWV 232: I. Dixit Dominus Domino meo (Chorus)

8. Dixit Dominus, HWV 232: "De torrente in via bibet" (Sopranos I & II, chorus)

9. Cantata IX - Conservate, raddoppiate HWV185: Conservate, raddoppiate

10. Cantata IX - Conservate, raddoppiate, HWV185: "Nodi voi, che gli stringeste"

11. Cantata "Il delirio amoroso", HWV 99: No. 2, Aria, "Per te lasciai la luce" (Soprano)

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