Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of George Frideric Handel's "Alcina, HWV 34," a timeless masterpiece that has captivated audiences since its release in 1986. This operatic tour de force, conducted by the esteemed Richard Hickox and performed by the City of London Baroque Sinfonia, is a testament to Handel's unparalleled genius and his enduring influence on the classical music landscape.
"Alcina, HWV 34" is a rich tapestry of vocal and instrumental brilliance, featuring 81 tracks that span a captivating 2 hours and 21 minutes. The opera, originally composed in 1735, is based on the libretto of "L'isola di Alcina," and it weaves a tale of magic, love, and betrayal with a narrative that is as compelling today as it was centuries ago. The overture alone is a breathtaking introduction to the drama that unfolds, setting the stage for a journey through the intricate emotions and conflicts that define the characters of Alcina, Ruggiero, Bradamante, and their companions.
The album is a showcase of Handel's mastery of both choral and operatic forms, with each aria and recitative delivering a powerful emotional resonance. Standout tracks like "È gelosia" and "Verdi prati, selve amene" highlight the vocal prowess of the performers, while the ballet sequences offer a delicate contrast with their graceful, dance-like melodies. The interplay between the orchestra and the singers is nothing short of extraordinary, creating a listening experience that is both immersive and deeply moving.
For fans of classical music, opera enthusiasts, and those new to Handel's work, "Alcina, HWV 34" is an essential addition to any music collection. The album's historical significance, combined with its artistic excellence, makes it a standout achievement in the world of classical recordings. Whether you are drawn to the dramatic intensity of the arias or the intricate beauty of the instrumental passages, this album promises a rich and rewarding listening experience.
Tracks
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1: OvertureGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1: Overture. MusetteGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1: Overture. MenuetGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 1: Recitativo. "Oh Dei! quivi non scorgo" (Bradamante, Melisso, Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, John Tomlinson, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 1: Aria. "O s'apre al riso" (Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Coro. "Questo è il cielo de' contenti" - Gavotte - Sarabande - Menuet & Gavotte (Chorus)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Opera Stage Chorus, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Ballet. Gavotte IGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Ballet. SarabandeGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Ballet. Gavotte I da capoGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Ballet. MenuetGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Ballet. Gavotte IIGeorge Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Recitativo. "Ecco l'infido" (Bradamante, Melisso, Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, John Tomlinson, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 2: Aria. "Di', cor mio" (Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 3: Recitativo. "Generosi guerrier" (Oberto, Melisso, Bradamante)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, John Tomlinson, Kathleen Kuhlmann, Patrizia Kwella, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 3: "Chi m'insegna il caro padre?" (Oberto)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Patrizia Kwella, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 4: Recitativo. "Mi ravvisi" (Bradamante, Ruggiero, Melisso)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, John Tomlinson, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 4: Aria. "Di te mi rido" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 5: Recitativo. "Qua dunque ne veniste" - Recitativo. "Io sono tua difesa" (Oronte, Bradamante, Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, Kathleen Kuhlmann, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 6: Aria. "È gelosia" (Bradamante)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 7: Recitativo. "Io dunque" (Oronte, Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 7: Recitativo. "La cerco in vano" (Ruggiero, Oronte)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 8: Aria. "Semplicetto!" (Oronte)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 9: Recitativo. "Ah, infedele, infedel!" - "Regina il tuo soggiorno" (Ruggiero, Alcina, Bradamante)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, Della Jones, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 10: Aria. "Sì, son quella!" (Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 11: Recitativo. "Se nemico mi fossi" - "Bradamante favella?" (Bradamante, Ruggiero, Melisso)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, John Tomlinson, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 12: Aria. "La bocca vaga" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1, Scene 13: Recitativo. "A quai strani perigli" - Recitativo. "Fuggi cor mio" (Melisso, Morgana, Bradamante)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, John Tomlinson, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 1: Aria. "Tornami a vagheggiar" (Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 1: Arioso e recitativo. "Col celarvi" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 1: Recitativo. "Taci, taci, codardo" (Melisso, Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, John Tomlinson, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 1: Arioso. "Qual portento mi richiama" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 1: Recitativo. "Atlante, dove sei?" (Ruggiero, Melisso)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, John Tomlinson, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 1: Aria. "Pensa a chi geme" (Melisso)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, John Tomlinson, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 2: Recitativo. "Qual'odio ingiusto contro me?" (Bradamante, Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 2: Aria. "Vorrei vendicarmi" (Bradamante)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 3: Recitativo. "Chi scopre al mio pensiero" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 3: Aria. "Mi lusinga il dolce affetto" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 4: Recitativo. "S'acquieti il rio sospetto" - "E la tua pace" (Morgana, Alcina, Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, Della Jones, Eiddwen Harrhy, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 5: Aria. "Ama, sospira" (Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 6: Recitativo. "Non scorgo nel tuo viso" (Alcina, Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 6: Aria. "Mio bel tesoro" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 7: Recitativo. "Regina, io cerco in vano" (Oberto, Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, Patrizia Kwella, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 7: Aria. "Tra speme e timore" (Oberto)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Patrizia Kwella, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 8: Recitativo. "Regina, sei tradita" (Oronte, Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 8: Aria. "Ah! mio cor!" (Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 9: Recitativo. "Or, che dici, Morgana?" - "All'offesa" (Oronte, Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Eiddwen Harrhy, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 10: Aria. "È un folle" (Oronte)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Maldwyn Davies, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 12: Recitativo. "Eccomi a' piedi tuoi" (Ruggiero, Bradamante, Morgana)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, Eiddwen Harrhy, Kathleen Kuhlmann, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 12: Aria. "Verdi prati, selve amene" (Ruggiero)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Della Jones, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Handel: Alcina, HWV 34, Act 2, Scene 13: Accompagnato. "Ah! Ruggiero crudel" (Alcina)George Frideric Handel, Richard Hickox, Arleen Auger, City Of London Baroque Sinfonia
Whether you're just starting your vinyl collection or have been spinning for years, the right turntable makes all the difference. We've selected the best options for every budget.
Whether a review is positive, negative, or neutral, we always publish it. However, we screen every review to ensure it is authentic and free of profanity. These checks happen automatically, though a human occasionally steps in. We never pay for reviews.
We don't have a live price right now, but stock fluctuates daily. You can check for hidden stock on Amazon directly, or let us alert you as soon as it is available.
