The English Concert, one of the finest chamber orchestras, was founded by Trevor Pinnock in 1972 and has over 120 recordings to its credit.
Recording & Production
This recording uses 24-bit technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Performer Biography
Rosemary Joshua, the soprano on this album, is highly regarded for her Handel roles and was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in Semele at English National Opera.
Composer's Artistic Vision
George Frideric Handel, a master of baroque opera seria, understood the dramatic effectiveness of duets, often making them longer than preceding arias to highlight key dramatic moments.
Compositional Technique
In Handel's opera Tamerlano, the farewell duet Vivo in te emphasized the widening distance between characters by only allowing their voices to blend for a few bars at a time.
Performer Biography
Sarah Connolly, the mezzo-soprano on this album, is a renowned Handelian and was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 New Year Honours.
Compositional Technique
Baroque composers, including Handel, linked the plaintive tones of flutes with the yearning and sadness of love, using them for emotional orchestral coloring.
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