Handel - Giulio Cesare / Mijanovic · Kozená · von Otter · Hellekant · B. Mehta · A. Ewing · Bertin · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This new recording of Handel's great Giulio Cesare was taped live in Vienna and has the exciting aura of a live performance--and also some of the problems. Minkowski leads an exciting reading, and he has a Caeser who can keep up with his aggressive tempi: mezzo Marijana Mijanovic sings fluently, accurately, and with stunning tone and great involvement, and the fact that she sounds as if she might be a countertenor only helps the situation. Magdalena Kozena's Cleopatra is wonderful as well--insinuating, ruthless, sad, loving by turns, and (although we're accustomed to the role being sung by a higher-voiced woman) Kozena is properly feminine and alluring. (Still, no-one compares with Beverly Sills on RCA.) Charlotte Hellekant's Cornelia is moving and well sung but could use a somewhat darker tone; Bejun Mehta's countertenor rings forth with style as Tolomeo. A problem is Anne Sofie von Otter's Sesto--she sounds tired--and occasionally, the orchestra is less than accurate. René Jacobs' recording on Harmonia Mundi remains the first choice, but this is a very close second. Handel lovers will need both. --Robert Levine

Handel - Giulio Cesare / Mijanovic · Kozená · von Otter · Hellekant · B. Mehta · A. Ewing · Bertin · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski, Music, Marijana Mijanovic, Magdalena Kozena, Anne Sofie von Otter, Charlotte Hellekant, Bejun Mehta, Alan Ewing, Pascal Bertin, Jean-Michel Ankaoua, Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre, George Friedric Handel, Box Sets (Audio Only), Classical, Classical Music, Italian Baroque Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta

Handel - Giulio Cesare / Mijanovic · Kozená · von Otter · Hellekant · B. Mehta · A. Ewing · Bertin · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
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EXTRAORDINARIO: Primera opcion

Minkowski's (overdue) return to Handel

Minkowski's (overdue) return to Handel

Handel - Giulio Cesare / Mijanovic · Kozená · von Otter · Hellekant · B. Mehta · A. Ewing · Bertin · Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
Marijana Mijanovic , Magdalena Kozena , Anne Sofie von Otter , Charlotte Hellekant , Bejun Mehta , Alan Ewing , Pascal Bertin , Jean-Michel Ankaoua , Marc Minkowski , Les Musiciens du Louvre , and George Friedric Handel
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000094HLD
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

Ouverture - Marc Minkowski
No. 1 Coro: 'Viva, Viva Il Nostro Alcide!' - Bejun Mehta
No. 2 Aria: 'Presti Omai L'egizia Terra' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Curio, Cesare Venne, E Vide E Vinse' - Marijana Mijanovic
(Recitativo:) 'Questa E Cornelia' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'La Reggia Tolomeo T'offre In Albergo' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 3 Aria: 'Empio, Diro, Tu Sei' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Gia Torna In Se' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 4 Aria: 'Priva Son D'ogni Conforto' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Vani Sono I Lamenti' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 5 Aria: 'Svegliatevi Nel Core' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
Recitativo: 'Regni Cleopatra' - Bejun Mehta
No. 6 Aria: 'Non Disperar, Chi Sa?' - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Sire, Signor!' / 'Achilla' - Bejun Mehta
No. 7 Aria: 'L'empio, Sleale, Indegno' - Bejun Mehta
No. 8 Accompagnato: 'Alma Del Gran Pompeo' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Qui Nobile Donzella' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 9 Aria: 'Non E Si Vago E Bello' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Cleopatra, Vincesti' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 10 Aria: 'Tutto Puo Donna Vezzosa' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 11 Arioso: 'Nel Tuo Seno, Amico Sasso' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Ma Che! Vile E Negletta' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 12 Aria: 'Cara Speme, Questo Core' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
Recitativo: 'Cesare, Alla Tua Destra' - Bejun Mehta
No. 14 Aria: 'Va Tacito E Nascosto' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Sire, Con Sesto Il Figlio Questa E Corneila - Bejun Mehta
(Recitativo:) 'Cornelia, In Quei Tuoi Lumi' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 15 Aria: 'Tu Sei Il Cor Di Questo Core' - Alan Ewing

Tracks:

Recitativo: 'Madre!' / 'Mia Vita!' / 'Addio...' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 16 Duetto: 'Son nata A Lagrimar / Son Nato A Sospirar' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Eseguisti, O Niren, Quanto T'imposi? - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Da Cleopatra Apprenda' - Pascal Bertin
Sinfonia E Recitativo: 'Taci!' / 'Che Fia?', Recitativo: 'Cieli, E Qual Dalle Sfere' - Pascal Bertin
Sinfonia, Recitativo: 'Giulio, Che Miri?' - Marijana Mijanovic
No. 17 Aria: 'V'adoro, Pupille' - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Vola, vola, Mio Cor, Al Dolce Incanto' - Pascal Bertin
No. 18 Aria: 'Se In Fiorito Ameno Prato' - Marijana Mijanovic
No. 19 Arioso: 'Deh, Piangete, O Mesti Lumi' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Bella, Non Lagrimare!' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Bella, Placa Lo Sdegno!' - Bejun Mehta
No. 20 Aria: 'Se A Me Non Sei Crudele' - Alan Ewing
Recitativo: 'Bella, Cotanto Aborri Chi Ti Prega D'amar?' - Bejun Mehta
No. 21 Aria: 'Si, Spietata, Il Tuo Rigore' - Bejun Mehta
Recitativo: 'Su, Che Si Tarda?' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Cornelia, Infauste Nove' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 22 Aria: 'Cessa Omai Di Sospirare!' - Charlotte Hellekant
Recitativo: 'Figlio Non E Chi Vendicar Non Cura' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 23 Aria: 'L'angue Offeso Mai Riposa' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 24 Aria: 'Venere Bella' - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Che Veggio, O Numi?' - Magdalena Kozena
(Recitativo:) 'Cesare, Sei Tradito' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 25 Aria E Coro: 'Al Lampo Dell'armi - 'Mora Cesare, Mora!' - Marijana Mijanovic
No. 26 Accompagnato: 'Che Sento? Oh Dio! Morra Cleopatra Ancora' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 27 Aria: 'Se Pieta Di Me Non Senti' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 28 Arioso E Recitativo: 'Belle Dee Di Questo Core' - - Bejun Mehta
'...Di Quel Che Avete In Doppie Stelle Accolto' - Bejun Mehta
Recitativo: 'Sire, Prendi!' / 'Che Fia?' - Bejun Mehta
Recitativo: 'Ecco In Tutto Perduta La Speme Di Vendetta' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 29 Aria: 'L'aura Che Spira' - Anne Sofie Von Otter

Tracks:

Recitativo: 'In Tal modi Si Premia Il Mio Lungo Servir' - Alan Ewing
No. 30 Aria: 'Dal Fulgor Di Questa Spada' - Alan Ewing
Sinfonia - Marc Minkowski
Recitativo: 'Vinta Cadesti Al Balenar Di Questo Mio Fulmine Reale' - Bejun Mehta
No. 31 Aria: 'Domero La Tua Fierezza' - Bejun Mehta
Recitativo: 'E Pur Cosi In Un Giorno' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 32 Aria: 'Piangero La Sorte Mia' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 33 Accompagnato Ed Aria: 'Dall'ondoso Periglio' - 'Aure, Deh, Per Pieta' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Cerco Invan Tolomeo Per Vendicarmi' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
Recitativo: 'Lascia Questo Sigillo!' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 34 Aria: 'Quel Torrente Che Cade Dal Monte' - Marijana Mijanovic
Recitativo: 'Tutto Lice Sperar, Cesare Vive' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 35 Aria: 'La Giustizia Ha Gia Sull'arco' - Anne Sofie Von Otter
No. 36 Accompagnato: 'Voi, Che Mie Fide Ancelle Un Tempo Foste' - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Forzai L'ingresso A Tua Salvezza, O Cara!' - Magdalena Kozena
No. 37 Aria: 'Da Tempeste Il Legno Infranto' - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Cornelia, E Tempo Omai - Bejun Mehta
Recitativo: 'T'arresta, O Genitrice!' - Bejun Mehta
No. 38 Aria: 'Non Ha Piu Che Temere' - Charlotte Hellekant
Sinfonia - Les Musiciens Du Louvre
Recitativo: 'Qui Curio Vincitor, Qui Tuo L'Egitto' - Charlotte Hellekant
No. 39 Duetto: 'Caro! / Bella! Piu Amabile Belta' - Magdalena Kozena
Recitativo: 'Goda Pur Or L'Egitto' - Marijana Mijanovic
No. 40 Coro E duetto: 'Ritorni Omai Nel Nostro Core' - 'Un Bel Contento Il Sen Gia Si Prepara' - Bejun Mehta

Amazon.com

This new recording of Handel's great Giulio Cesare was taped live in Vienna and has the exciting aura of a live performance--and also some of the problems. Minkowski leads an exciting reading, and he has a Caeser who can keep up with his aggressive tempi: mezzo Marijana Mijanovic sings fluently, accurately, and with stunning tone and great involvement, and the fact that she sounds as if she might be a countertenor only helps the situation. Magdalena Kozena's Cleopatra is wonderful as well--insinuating, ruthless, sad, loving by turns, and (although we're accustomed to the role being sung by a higher-voiced woman) Kozena is properly feminine and alluring. (Still, no-one compares with Beverly Sills on RCA.) Charlotte Hellekant's Cornelia is moving and well sung but could use a somewhat darker tone; Bejun Mehta's countertenor rings forth with style as Tolomeo. A problem is Anne Sofie von Otter's Sesto--she sounds tired--and occasionally, the orchestra is less than accurate. René Jacobs' recording on Harmonia Mundi remains the first choice, but this is a very close second. Handel lovers will need both. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

EXTRAORDINARIO: Primera opcion.......2004-01-13

Minkowski se corona con este registro, consiguiendo la version mas redonda hasta la fecha de 'Giulio Cesare' (muy superior a la tan laureada version de Rene Jacobs). La direccion de Minkowski es mas chispeante e imaginativa, y sus Mousiciens du Louvre suenan a las mil maravillas. El cast vocal es de gran altura: La casi desconocida Marijana Millanovic interpreta un Cesare sobresaliente, seguro en toda la tesitura, y de acentos contratenoriles. Magdalena Kozena consigue la mejor version de Cleopatra hasta la fecha: fantastica. Charlotte Hellekart, es una Cornelia muy interesante, aunque no llegue a superar la creacion absoluta que de este personaje hizo Bernarda Fink con Jacobs. Anne Sofie Von Otter deja constancia de uno de los mejores Sestos en disco, aportando su buen gusto de siempre al papel. Bejun Metha está en estado de gracia como Ptolomeo, demostrando que es un gran cantante. Discreto Alan Ewig, un Achilla aquejado de vibratto, y cumplidores el resto de secundarios en sus cortas intervenciones. El sonido es excelente, lo que convierte a esta version en una primera opcion para esta obra, por encima incluso de la version de Jacobs en Harmonia Mundi.

Minkowski's (overdue) return to Handel.......2003-09-04

I'll admit that I am a big fan of Marc Minkowski and that I've followed him from his first Handel recordings (Amadigi and Teseo) to his Offenbach and Strauss. However, while his "modern" forays have been quite nice (especially the Orphée aux Enfers), I'm glad that he has finally remembered what he does best: the Baroque, and, namely, Handel. His Dixit Dominus has converted several people I know to "classical" music and his Ariodante, with the thrilling casting of Anne Sophie Von Otter and Ewa Podles, will be hailed as immortal (see my review). This new installment goes straight for the top: Giulio Cesare. The orchestra - particularly the solo instruments of cor di caccia, Hector McDonald, and violin, Florian Deuter, are superb - is amazing, the tempi are just right, quick and languid by turns. Handel should be fast - when he shouldn't be slow, it's all about giving the music it's due. The vocal soloists are also generally great, with some greater than others. The tricky title role sung by Marijan Mijanovic is well chosen. It took me awhile to recall who she reminds me of and I think I've got it: Carolyn Watkinson, but truly with her mezzo power and passion in a contralto part (Watkison's contralto singing, such as the role of Galatea, is quite different). I'm amazed to hear myself give her such high praise as I was rather unmoved by her contribution to the Arcadian duets (Emmanuel Haïm), but maybe it's just a matter of learning to love something new (and something old). Magdalena Kozena sings Cleopatra, which is also amazing since she debuted as an alto/mezzo and has sung tons of that material. Her Cleopatra is solid, thrilling, yet I still long for the coloratura soprano in this part - which we don't have a recording of! Where are Nathalie Dessay, Sandrine Piau, or Sylvia McNair? The mother-son duo, Cleopatra and Sesto, with their fabulously erotic music, which, sung by two women as Handel wrote the parts, moves from incestuous to lesbian in the blink of an ear! - is Charlotte Hellenkant and the sublime Anne-Sophie Von Otter. Hellenkant has the amorous maternal role down pat while Von Otter, though perhaps a bit less in this role, is, as the liner notes claim, one of the best singers of her generation. I'm glad also to see former boy soprano current countertenor king Bejun Mehta in a major role, Tolomeo. This is actually a role that has burned more than one male alto as it requires big guns both in terms of breath and pure vocal ability, which Mehta has in spades. Achilla is sung by Alan Ewing (Polyphemus on Christie's Acis and Galatea) and is sufficiently bullying and blustering for the part. For another interpretation, check out the god-like James Magdalena in Peter Sellars video production of this opera, the one time this role can bring tears to the eye.
A must for all serious Handel/Minkowski fans.

Minkowski's (overdue) return to Handel.......2003-09-04

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