Joyce DiDonato – Handel: Agrippina (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Joyce DiDonato - Handel: Agrippina (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz] Download

The American mezzo sings the title role of the scheming Roman matriarch in a starrily-cast recording of Handel’s early opera with Il Pomo d’Oro, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

Handel spent many years in Italy during his youth and it was here that he composed his anti-heroic comedy, Agrippina, at the age of twenty-four, before eventually settling down in London. Its immoral, corrupt and decadent plots are presented as an inherent part of daily life for the ruling class of ancient Rome, along with their insatiable desire for political and sexual power. Handel was fascinated by Italian music and composed this particular opera in less than three weeks upon the request of a Venetian theatre, where it was then performed some twenty-seven nights in a row. Such was the enormity of the opera’s success that it firmly established the young composer’s reputation in Europe as a result. The score is bursting with emotion and has so many twists and turns that even the Venetians, who were used to these kinds of storylines, were blown away. The colourful libretto includes betrayals, assassinations, feigned love and lies of every kind – all of which are elements that the American film industry delights in incorporating into the films of today under the direction of someone like Martin Scorsese or the Coen brothers.

This studio recording was made in the Dolomites in May 2019, in conjunction with a European tour and features a dazzling cast led by the fierce Joyce DiDonato (Agrippina). This is DiDonato is at her very best, combining her vocals with marvellously conducted flourishes. She perfectly encapsulates the difficult, multi-faceted role by reflecting each one of Agrippina’s personality traits, from formidable intelligence and masterful manipulation to being a loving mother and wife. Joining her onstage is an exceptional cast that includes Franco Fagioli (Nerone), Jakub Józef Orliński (Ottone), Marie-Nicole Lemieux (Giunone) and Elsa Benoit (Poppea), along with the II Pomo d’Oro ensemble, feverishly conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev. This can only be described as a Handel grand cru. – François Hudry

Tracklist:

1-01. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6: Sinfonia (03:37)
1-02. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Nerone, amato figlio” (Agrippina, Nerone) (02:42)
1-03. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Col saggio tuo consiglio” (Nerone) (04:54)
1-04. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Per cosi grand’impresa” (Agrippina) (00:34)
1-05. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “A’ cenni tuoi sovrani” (Pallante, Agrippina) (02:49)
1-06. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “La mia sorte fortunata” (Pallante) (03:35)
1-07. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Or che Pallante è vinto” (Agrippina) (00:17)
1-08. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Umile alle tue piante” (Agrippina, Narciso) (02:04)
1-09. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Volo pronto” (Narciso) (03:26)
1-10. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Quanto fa, quanto puote” (Agrippina) (00:25)
1-11. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “L’alma mia fra le tempeste” (Agrippina) (02:37)
1-12. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Qual piacer” (Nerone) (02:23)
1-13. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Amici, al sen vi stringo” (Nerone) (00:20)
1-14. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ecco chi presto” (Pallante, Narciso, Nerone) (01:15)
1-15. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Voi, che dell’alta Roma” (Agrippina) (01:14)
1-16. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Il tuo figlio / La tua prole” (Agrippina, Nerone, Narciso, Pallante) (00:40)
1-17. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ma qual di liete trombe” (Agrippina) (00:15)
1-18. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Allegrezza, allegrezza!” (Lesbo) (00:32)
1-19. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Che sento!” (Lesbo, Pallante, Agrippina, Narciso, Nerone) (01:31)
1-20. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Alle tue piante, o Augusta” (Ottone, Pallante, Agrippina, Narciso, Nerone) (02:52)
1-21. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Augusta, amo Poppea” (Ottone, Agrippina) (01:03)
1-22. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Tu ben degno” (Agrippina) (03:53)
1-23. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “L’ultima del gioir” (Ottone) (00:26)
1-24. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Lusinghiera mia speranza” (Ottone) (03:55)
1-25. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Vaghe perle” (Poppea) (04:39)
1-26. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Otton, Claudio, Nerone” (Poppea) (00:17)
1-27. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Signora, o mia signora!” (Lesbo, Poppea) (01:05)
1-28. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Di lieta nuova” (Lesbo, Agrippina, Poppea) (01:17)
1-29. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Perché invece di Claudio” (Poppea) (00:20)
1-30. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “È un foco quel d’amore” (Poppea) (02:12)
1-31. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “(Ma qui Agrippina viene)” [Agrippina, Poppea] (03:04)
1-32. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ho un non so che nel cor” (Agrippina) (02:10)
1-33. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Cieli, quai strani casi” (Poppea) (00:46)
1-34. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Non veggo alcun” (Lesbo) (00:28)
1-35. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Pur ritorno a rimirarvi” (Claudio) (03:46)
1-36. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Ma, o ciel, mesta e confusa” (Claudio, Poppea) (03:55)
1-37. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Vieni, o cara” (Claudio) (01:34)
1-38. Maxim Emelyanychev – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “(Che mai farò?)” [Poppea, Claudio] (00:15)
1-39. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Signor, signor, presto” (Lesbo, Claudio, Poppea) (00:29)
1-40. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “E quando mai / Quando vorrai” (Poppea, Claudio, Lesbo) (00:28)
1-41. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Pur al fin se n’andò” (Poppea) (00:21)
1-42. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “O mia liberatrice” (Poppea, Agrippina) (00:56)
1-43. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Non ho cor che per amarti” (Agrippina) (05:14)
1-44. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Se Ottone m’ingannò” (Poppea) (00:16)
1-45. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Se giunge un dispetto” (Poppea) (02:14)
1-46. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Dunque noi siam traditi” (Pallante, Narciso) (00:55)
1-47. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Coronato il crin d’alloro”(Ottone) (03:11)
1-48. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Roma, più ch’il trionfo” (Pallante, Narciso, Ottone) (00:43)
1-49. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: Prelude (00:26)
1-50. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ecco il superbo” (Agrippina, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone, Narciso) (01:12)
1-51. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Di timpani e trombe” (Poppea, Nerone, Agrippina, Ottone, Narciso, Pallante, Lesbo) (01:26)
1-52. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Nella Britannia vinta” (Claudio) (00:33)
1-53. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Cade il mondo” (Claudio) (03:38)
1-54. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Signor, quanto il mio cuore” (Agrippina, Claudio, Poppea, Nerone, Narciso, Pallante, Ottone) (02:11)
1-55. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Nulla sperar da me” (Agrippina) (01:44)
1-56. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “E tu Poppea” (Ottone) (00:05)
1-57. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Tuo ben è il trono” (Poppea) (01:34)
1-58. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Soccorri almen Nerone” (Ottone) (00:05)
1-59. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Sotto il lauro” (Nerone) (02:09)
1-60. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Scherzo son”(Ottone, Narciso, Pallante, Lesbo) (00:37)
1-61. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Otton, otton” (Ottone) (01:05)
1-62. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Voi ch’udite” (Ottone) (04:54)
1-63. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Spera, alma mia” (Poppea) (04:09)
1-64. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Il tormento d’Ottone” (Poppea) (00:26)
1-65. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “(Par che amor sia)” [Poppea] (00:14)
1-66. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Vaghe fonti” (Ottone) (01:44)
1-67. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ma qui che veggo” (Ottone, Poppea) (01:32)
1-68. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Fantasme della mente” (03:40)
1-69. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ti vuo’ giusta” (Ottone) (02:10)
1-70. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Da quali ordite trame” (Poppea) (00:35)
1-71. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ingannata una sol volta” (Poppea) (01:33)
1-72. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Pur alfin ti ritrovo” (Lesbo, Poppea) (01:05)
1-73. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “A non pochi perigli” (Poppea) (00:24)
1-74. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Son qui, mia vita” (Nerone, Poppea) (01:20)
1-75. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Col peso del tuo amor” (Poppea) (03:33)
1-76. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Qual bramato piacere” (Nerone) (00:17)
1-77. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Quando invita” (Nerone) (03:47)
1-78. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Pensieri, voi mi tormentate” / “Quel ch’oprai” (Agrippina) (06:36)
1-79. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Se ben nemica sorte” (Pallante, Agrippina) (01:07)
1-80. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Col raggio placido” (Pallante) (02:54)
1-81. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Di giunger non dispero” (Agrippina) (00:09)
1-82. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Or è tempo” (Agrippina, Narciso) (00:53)
1-83. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Spererò, poiché mel dice” (Narciso) (02:19)
1-84. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Per dar la pace al core” (Agrippina) (00:21)
1-85. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “A vagheggiar io vengo” (Claudio, Agrippina) (03:29)
1-86. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Signor, Poppea” (Lesbo, Claudio, Agrippina) (00:43)
1-87. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Basta che sol tu chieda” (Claudio) (02:12)
1-88. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Favorevol la sorte” (Agrippina) (00:23)
1-89. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 2: “Ogni vento” (Agrippina) (04:24)
1-90. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Il caro Otton” (Poppea) (00:23)
1-91. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ah, mia Poppea” (Ottone, Poppea) (01:46)
1-92. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Tacerò” (Ottone) (03:54)
1-93. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Attendo qui Nerone” (Poppea) (00:15)
1-94. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Anelante ti reco” (Nerone, Poppea, Ottone) (01:31)
1-95. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3 “Coll’ardor del tuo bel core” (Nerone) (02:13)
1-96. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Amico ciel” (Poppea) (00:25)
1-97. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Qui non v’è alcun” (Lesbo, Claudio, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone) (03:48)
1-98. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Temerario insolente” (Claudio, Nerone, Poppea, Ottone) (00:49)
1-99. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ora, Claudio, che dici?” (Poppea, Claudio) (01:30)
1-100. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Io di Roma” (Claudio) (02:43)
1-101. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Pur alfin se n’andò” (Poppea) (00:22)
1-102. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ora Ottone, che dici?” (Poppea, Ottone) (01:38)
1-103. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Pur ch’io ti stringa al sen” (Ottone) (03:41)
1-104. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Piega pur del mio cor” (Poppea) (00:19)
1-105. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Bel piacere” (Poppea) (01:41)
1-106. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Cotanto osò Poppea?” (Agrippina, Nerone) (01:31)
1-107. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Come nube” (Nerone) (04:25)
1-108. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Evvi donna più empia?” (Pallante, Narciso) (00:46)
1-109. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Agrippina, Nerone” (Claudio, Pallante, Narciso) (01:57)
1-110. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Adorato mio sposo” (Agrippina, Claudio, Pallante, Narciso) (06:10)
1-111. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Se vuoi pace” (Agrippina) (03:58)
1-112. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Ecco la mia rivale” (Agrippina, Poppea, Nerone, Ottone, Claudio) (04:24)
1-113. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “Lieto il Tebro” (Agrippina, Poppea, Claudio, Nerone, Ottone, Pallante, Narciso, Lesbo, Giunone) (00:45)
1-114. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “D’Ottone e di Poppea” (Giunone) (00:22)
1-115. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “V’accendano le tede” (Giunone) (02:28)
1-116. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Gigue (00:53)
1-117. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Sarabande (01:58)
1-118. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Bourrée (01:11)
1-119. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Menuet (00:54)
1-120. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: Passacaille (04:45)
1-121. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “Fa’ quanto vuoi” (Poppea) [Appendix] (02:03)
1-122. Joyce DiDonato – Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 3: “No, no, ch’io non apprezzo” (Ottone, Poppea) [Appendix] (02:20)