Giuseppina Bridelli – Duel. Porpora and Handel in London (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Despite the rivalry between the operatic companies leaded by Haendel and Porpora in London (1734-1737), much has to be said about the real nature of the connection between the two composers. Both the musicians were considered outstandingly original for their aesthetic choices. Both admired each other’s music. The few whirlwind years of their defiance in Great Britain produced memorable scores: among them, Ariodante by Haendel and Polifemo by Porpora, performed with simultaneous runs in the city theaters. The fight between the two operatic company was an opportunity for the composers to meet and discover each other, to deal with the taste of the audience and to experiment new ideas, getting strength from the incredible skills of the members of the vocal casts (Farinelli, Senesino, Carestini, etc.). This album tries to capture the soul of such a complicated intellectual relationship, presenting significant exemples of the composers’ style and outlining the borders of the mutual esteem between two giants in the history of music. On her debut solo album, the young talented mezzosoprano Giuseppina Bridelli performs with effortless bravery the difficult pages written for some of the most famous singers of the 18th century: between them, a version with original variations of Haendel Scherza infida.

Tracklist:
1-1. Giuseppina Bridelli – Alcina, HWV 34: Sta nell’ircana pietrosa tana (05:29)
1-2. Giuseppina Bridelli – Arianna in Naxo: Nume che reggi ‘l mare (07:13)
1-3. Giuseppina Bridelli – David e Bersabea: Dolce è su queste alte mie logge a sera (02:17)
1-4. Giuseppina Bridelli – David e Bersabea: Fu del braccio onnipotente (05:57)
1-5. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Polifemo, ouverture: I. Ouverture (01:26)
1-6. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Polifemo, ouverture: II. Allegro (01:51)
1-7. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Polifemo, ouverture: III. […] (02:20)
1-8. Giuseppina Bridelli – Calcante e Achille: A questa man verrà (04:12)
1-9. Giuseppina Bridelli – Ariodante, HWV 33: Scherza infida (09:16)
1-10. Giuseppina Bridelli – Polifemo: Il gioir qualor s’aspetta (05:46)
1-11. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Ariodante, HWV 33, suite de ballet: I. Entrée des songes agréables (01:25)
1-12. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Ariodante, HWV 33, suite de ballet: II. Entrée des songes funestes (01:51)
1-13. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Ariodante, HWV 33, suite de ballet: III. Entrée des songes agréables effrayés (00:41)
1-14. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu – Ariodante, HWV 33, suite de ballet: IV: Le combat des songes funestes et agréables (01:30)
1-15. Giuseppina Bridelli – Mitridate: Alza al soglio i guardi (04:13)
1-16. Giuseppina Bridelli – Tolomeo, HWV 25: Inumano fratel, barbara madre (01:49)
1-17. Giuseppina Bridelli – Tolomeo, HWV 25: Stille amare, già vi sento (04:15)
1-18. Giuseppina Bridelli – Catone in Utica, HWV A7: Quando piomba improvvisa saetta (04:12)