Aaron Sheehan, the tenor on this album, won a GRAMMY® Award in 2015 for Best Opera Recording for his role in Charpentier's opera La Descente d'Orphée aux enfers.
Instruments
Tekla Cunningham, the orchestra director and violinist, plays on a Sanctus Seraphin violin made in Venice in 1746.
Recording & Production
This album is the first solo album for tenor Aaron Sheehan and the first album of any kind for Pacific MusicWorks, a production company established by Stephen Stubbs.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Handel's interest in the talents of John Beard, a tenor, led him to focus on the tenor voice in his works, particularly in English oratorio, which prioritized clear text articulation over Italian opera's dueling divas and castrati.
Composer Biography
John Beard, Handel's tenor, first came to Handel's attention as a 16-year-old chorister in 1732, singing a solo part in Handel's oratorio Esther.
Composition History
Handel wrote the part for John Beard in Alexander's Feast, which premiered in February 1736, specifically for him after being impressed by the young tenor.
Performer Biography
Stephen Stubbs, the conductor, lute, and guitar player on this album, is a GRAMMY® Award-winning artist and was awarded the Mayor's Arts Award in Seattle in 2014 for 'Raising the Bar'.
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