HANDEL: OTTONE - MAX CENCIC EMMANUEL, IL POMO D'ORO (3 CDS)

Handel’s Ottone, re di Germania is presented here in a new recording by Max Emanuel Cencic and a superb cast, under the baton of George Petrou with Il Pomo d’Oro.

Premiered in London in 1723, Ottone was one of Handel’s most successful operas during his lifetime. This rare recording breathes new life into one of the master’s greatest works.

Also featuring three “bonus” arias performed in the 1726 revival.

Ann Hallenberg (mezzo-soprano), Lauren Snouffer (soprano), Max Emanuel Cenčić (counter-tenor), Anna Starushkevych (mezzo-soprano), Xavier Sabata (counter-tenor), Pavel Kudinov (bass)

Il Pomo d'Oro

George Petrou

Handel: Cervo altier
Handel: Io sperai trovar riposo
Handel: Ottone, Re di Germania
Handel: Un disprezzato affetto (from Arianna in Creta)

"The leading man is Max Emanuel Cenčić (Ottone), his tone keen, flexible and brilliant…[Xavier Sabata] brings emotionality and intelligence to the role of Adalberto…Ann Hallenberg as Gismonda, menacing, imperious and agile; Anna Starushkevych as Matilda, tender and magnanimous; Pavel Kudinov as Emireno, darkly handsome of tone…you’ll wonder why Ottone remains relatively obscure." --BBC MAGAZINE

"Petrou draws rhythmically animated, sensitively coloured playing from the crack Italian band...The cast is uniformly strong...Cenčić, with his unusually powerful, sensuous countertenor, rescues [Ottone] from self-regarding wimpishess. ..this new recording is emphatically the version to have of an opera whose dramatic flaws are redeemed by magnificent individual scenes and any number of good tunes." - GRAMOPHONE