Handel Uncaged: Cantatas for Alto | Lawrence Zazzo (countertenor); Jonathan Manson (cello & viola da gamba); Andrew Maginley (theorbo & guitar); Guillermo Brachetta (harpsichord) | Inventa Records | INV1002

Handel Uncaged: Cantatas for Alto

£12.99
Total playing time [74:26]

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Lawrence Zazzo (countertenor)
Jonathan Manson (viola da gamba)
Andrew Maginley (theorbo & guitar)
Guillermo Brachetta (harpsichord)

George Frideric Handel’s early Italian cantatas were a laboratory for his vocal writing, daring experiments in melody and harmony upon which Handel drew for the rest of his composing life.

In Handel Uncaged, the internationally renowned countertenor Lawrence Zazzo has ‘uncaged’ a selection of these cantatas for the alto voice, presenting them in new ways, crowned by the world premiere recording of unpublished music from Handel’s astonishing and amusing 10-aria cantata cycle, Amore Uccellatore.

Zazzo is joined by a stellar continuo team of Jonathan Manson (cello and viola da gamba), Andrew Maginley (theorbo & guitar) and Guillermo Brachetta (harpsichord).

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Udite il mio consiglio, HWV 172
(Ruspoli version)
1. Recitative: Udite il mio consiglio
2. Aria: Non le scherzate intorno
3. Recitative: Al vederla sovente
4. Aria: Non esce un guardo mai
5. Recitative – Arioso: Volea pur dir

Stanco di più soffrire, HWV 167a
6. Recitative: Stanco di più soffrire
7. Aria: Era in sogno almen contento
8. Recitative: Quando mi parve allora
9. Aria: Se più non t’amo

Guillermo Brachetta (after G.F. Handel)
10. Improvisation

Figli del mesto cor, HWV 112
11. Recitative: Figli del mesto cor
12. Aria: Son pur le lacrime
13. Recitative: Così mia dura sorte
14. Aria: Cruda legge d’un alma constante
15. Recitative: Volea seguir quand’ecco

Amore uccellatore, HWV 176/175
16. Recitative: Venne voglia ad amore
17. Aria: Pose Clori ed Amarilli
18. Recitative: Amor gli maneggiava
19. Aria: Or ch’io sono accivettato
20. Recitative: Talora, con speranza

Suite in F major, HWV 427
21. Allegro
22. Adagio

Amore uccellatore, HWV 176/175
23. Recitative: Vedendo amor
24. Aria: In un folto bosco ombroso
25. Recitative: In quel bosco
26. Aria: Camminando lei pian piano
27. Recitative: Caricò, scaricò
28. Aria: Rise Eurilla
29. Recitative: Fra tanto

30. Sonatina in G major, HWV 582

Amore uccellatore, HWV 176/175
31. Recitative: Non fu gran tempo lieto
32. Aria: Quando meno lo pensai
33. Recitative: Ella aprendo la gabbia
34. Aria: Quivi amor non può venire
35. Recitative: Voglio che m’entri in tasca
36. Recitative: Amor che per suo servo mi voleva
37. Aria: Ad Eurilla sen volò
38. Recitative: Del pianto e de’ sospiri
39. Aria: Trupz ci ci, Amor faceva
40. Recitative: Io come degl’ucelli e naturale

Sonata in G minor, HWV 364b
41. Larghetto

Amore uccellatore, HWV 176/175
42. Recitative: Voi vi potete credere
43. Aria: Non è più buono

“

'Zazzo taps into the passion of these cantatas rather than their archness, and the gorgeous additions by cellist Jonathan Manson, theorbist Andrew Maginley and harpsichordist Guillermo Brachetta take their inspiration from word-meaning.'

- BBC Music Magazine

'Zazzo taps into the passion of these cantatas rather than their archness, and the gorgeous additions by cellist Jonathan Manson, theorbist Andrew Maginley and harpsichordist Guillermo Brachetta take their inspiration from word-meaning.'
BBC Music Magazine

Part recital and part musical detective drama, ‘Handel Uncaged’ is, ironically, entirely captivating [...] Zazzo, skilfully supported by Jonathan Manson (cello and gamba), Andrew Maginley (theorbo, guitar) and Guillermo Brachetta (harpsichord), sounds fresher than ever here in music that celebrates his feathery softness and roundness of tone.
Gramophone

'[...] there is always pleasure to be had from Zazzo’s pleasing timbre and ease of production.'
Early Music Review

'Zazzo clearly loves this music and he makes and engaging story-teller. A considerable amount of scholarship has gone into this recording, but what really comes over in performance is the engagement and sense of delight from the performers.'
Planet Hugill

'The voice is fine, the small continuo group plays convincingly'
Lark Reviews

Credits
© 2019 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2019 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. INV1002
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262791615
Cover image: Nancy Horowitz (www.nancy-horowitz.at)
Release date: 1 November 2019