Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Paul Sharp (trumpet), Christine Rice (mezzo), Roger Montgomery (horn), Joe Walters (horn), Lucy Crowe (soprano), Leo Duarte (oboe), Thomas Gould (violin), Joe Qiu (bassoon), La Nuova Musica, David Bates

• Georg Friedrich Händel: Teseo-Ouvertüre; Marcia, Battaglia , Or la tromba, Venti turbini aus Rinaldo; Sta nell'Ircana pietrosa tana aus Alcina; Sinfonias, Rezitative & Arien aus Giulio Cesare in Egitto; Scherza infida aus Ariodante; Qui l'augel da pianta in pianta aus Aci, Galatea e Polifermo; Passacaglia aus Rodrigo; Pene tiranna aus Amadigi di Gaula; Se giunge un dispetto aus Agrippina

INSTRUMENTALISTS PUT CENTRE STAGE

After their acclaimed recording of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, La Nuova Musica and David Bates expand their PENTATONE discography with Handel’s Unsung Heroes, in which the instrumentalists of Handel’s operas are put centre stage. Traditionally restricted to an “invisible” existence in the orchestra pit, La Nuova Musica’s obbligato instrumentalists – violinist Thomas Gould, oboist Leo Duarte and bassoonist Joe Qiu – are now in the limelight. They will stand as equal partners alongside a world-class line up of soloists – soprano Lucy Crowe, mezzo-soprano Christine Rice and countertenor Iestyn Davies – showing how Handel wrote music as virtuosic and lyrical for his unsung heroes as for their singing counterparts. The album includes arias from Handel masterpieces such as Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare, Agrippina and Ariodante.

La Nuova Musica and its artistic director David Bates are among the most exciting Baroque ensembles of today. Their PENTATONE debut with Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice was both BBC Music Magazine Choice and Gramophone Editor’s Choice in December 2019. Iestyn Davies returns to PENTATONE after having sung the title role in that same release, whereas Lucy Crowe and Christine Rice make their PENTATONE debut.