Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Handel: Alceste (2012/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Handel wrote incidental music for only one play, Tobias Smollett’s Alceste, and it was never produced, so the composer, characteristically, recycled most of its major numbers. In this recording, Christian Curnyn and the Early Opera Company deliver a distinguished account of the rarely performed or recorded complete score. Written in 1750, late in Handel’s career, it is clearly the work of the composer at the height of his powers, and many of its numbers deserve broader exposure. The soprano aria “Gentle Morpheus” is easily among the loveliest the composer ever wrote, and Lucy Crowe sings it with ravishing sensuality. Crowe’s luminous singing in her three arias is one of the highlights of the album. Tenor Benjamin Hulett, whose part is given the bulk of the solos, performs with agility and lightness. Baritone Andrew Foster-Williams seems less than fully at ease with the coloratura of his single aria. The orchestral playing is crisply precise and exceptionally nimble, and the chorus sings with clarity and high spirits.

Tracklist:
01. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Ouverture (05:02)
02. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Grand entree (01:57)
03. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Accompagnato: Ye happy people (Tenor) (00:22)
04. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Triumph, Hymen, in the pair (Soprano, Chorus) (02:33)
05. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Still caressing and caress’d (Soprano, Chorus) (02:35)
06. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Air: Ye swift minutes as ye fly (Tenor) (03:27)
07. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: O bless, ye pow’rs above (Chorus) (02:01)
08. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Air: Gentle Morpheus, son of night (Soprano) – That when bright Aurora’s beams (08:08)
09. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Admeto, re di Tessaglia, HWV 22: Admeto, re di Tessaglia, HWV 22: Sinfonia (01:18)
10. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Air: Ye fleeting shades, I come (Bass) (04:19)
11. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Thrice happy who in life excel (Chorus) (01:58)
12. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Air: Enjor the sweet Elysian grove (Tenor) (05:14)
13. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Radamisto, HWV 12a: Radamisto, HWV 12a: Passacaille (04:42)
14. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Si replica il Core precedente: Thrice happy (01:59)
15. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Air: Come, Fancy, empress of the brain (Soprano) (05:33)
16. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Symphony and Accompagnato: He comes, he rises from below (Tenor) (01:24)
17. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Al hail, thou mighty son of Jove! (Chorus) (02:10)
18. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Symphony: Larghetto (01:55)
19. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Recitative: From high Olympus’ top, the seat of God (Tenor) (00:44)
20. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Air: Tune your harps, all ye Nine (Tenor) (01:44)
21. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Ballo primo: Un peu lentement (01:49)
22. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: L’ultimato ballo (00:56)
23. Lucy Crowe, Benjamin Hulett, Andrew Foster-Williams, Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn – Alceste, HWV 45: Triumph, thou son of Jove (Chorus) (01:14)