Mary-Ellen Nesi (Alessandro), Marita Solberg (Salustia), Kristina Hammarström (Giulia), Irini Karaianni (Albina), Gemma Bertagnolli (Claudio), Petros Magoulas (Marziano), Christophoros Stamboglis (Don Crespuscolo)
Armonia Atenea, George Petrou
These are world premiere recordings and these Handel specialists have once again scored a major coup. Alessandro Severo is based on the life of a Roman emperor of the third century and is in the form of a pasticcio. Manzaro composed the Greek national anthem and the discovery of an opera by him was a major find by the Greek conductor George Petrou. Armonia Atenia perform on period instruments.
Petrou gives us more vigorous Handel, played by his Greek colleagues in the period-instrument Armonia Atenea with red-blooded energy and pounding rhythms...Solberg sings with disarming beauty as the ostensibly innocent Salustia...In the castrato role of Alessandro Severo...Nesi manages to set a tone distinct from the rest of a well-chosen cast, none of whom lets the side down,
The singing here is of the high standard one has come to expect from Petrou's productions...These are among the best-sung Handel recordings on disc...the excellent Athens-based Armonia Atenea...is crucial to the issue's success, responding to Petrou's vital, always theatrically alert direction with verve and unforced virtuosity.
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