RECORDING OF THE MONTH FURTHER LISTENING bright splendour: Armonia Atenea/George Petrou Hasse’s Siroe on stage – and now out on disc BEETHOVEN CHOICE The Creatures of Prometheus Armonia Atenea/George Petrou Decca 478 6755 65:02 mins BBC Music Direct £14.99 ‘A fierce energy leaps out of the opening chords of Beethoven’s only ballet score – it’s an immensely exciting start to a recording that has you on the edge of your seat.’ October 2014 ROKOKO Hasse Opera Arias Max Emanuel Cencic (countertenor); Armonia Atenea/George Petrou Decca 478 6418 64:25 mins BBC Music Direct £14.99 ‘Cencic leaps elegantly across his register, and the band intervenes in delightfully unexpected ways. The richness of his timbre makes Hasse’s lovely lines even more delectable.’ August 2014 HANDEL Alessandro Cencic, Lezhneva, Gauvin, Sabata, Sancho, Sim, Khoroschev; Armonia Atenea; The City of Athens Choir/ George Petrou Decca 478 4699 190:06 mins (3 discs) BBC Music Direct £29.99 ‘Each of the three A dazzlingly brilliant premiere leads is outstanding, at times stupendous. But for all the Berta Joncus sings the praises of the first recording of Hasse’s Siroe star quality, the performance remains a supremely is a triumph. It reveals the full with two star castratos, Farinelli and ensemble effort, singers and splendour of Hasse’s score, from Caffarelli; in 1763 he rewrote 14 of instrumentalists striking sparks off tender lyricism to eye-popping the 21 arias for a cast that included each other.’ December 2012 virtuosity. Besides being a stonking his pupil Elisabeth Teyber, a friend work, Siroe was also Hasse’s homage of the Mozarts, as first lady. Hasse to the waning genre of opera seria chose Siroe for the triumphal return each. Cascading emotions – hate, HASSE and as such a to Dresden of his love, jealousy, tenderness, sorrow – summation of patron the Saxon propel the action forward, as Siroe’s Siroe re di Persia his four decades George Petrou pushes Elector, who younger brother convinces Cosroe (Dresden version, 1763) of writing for the artists beyond had been driven to imprison Siroe for treason. But Max Emanuel Cencic (Siroe), the best voices in out by invading Siroe’s virtue humbles brother and Franco Fagioli (Medarse), Julia Europe. Two stellar what seems possible Prussians; the plot father alike, and the latter abdicates Lezhneva (Laodice), Juan Sancho (Cosroe), Mary-Ellen Nesi (Emira), countertenors in of Siroe revolves his throne to Siroe. Laureen Snouffer (Arasse); castrato roles, Max Emanuel Cencic around the need to recognise the Conductor George Petrou storms Armonia Atenea/George Petrou and Franco Fagioli, join Decca’s rightful ruler. In the action, Siroe’s his way through the score, pushing Decca 478 6768 (2 discs) prima donna Julia Lezhneva to bring father Cosroe has killed the father the artists beyond what seems BBC Music Direct £22.99 Hasse into full bloom. of Siroe’s fiancée, who, disguised as physically possible. Cencic and This world-premiere recording of This recording is of Hasse’s second a soldier, plots to murder Cosroe. Fagioli clearly relish the challenge, BRUNODE LAVENERE, FRANCK JUERY Johann Adolph Hasse’s Siroe (1763) Siroe. His first was a 1733 production Siroe is torn between his duties to as does Lezhneva. Her cool precision 76 BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE All discs can be ordered from www.classical-music.com/shop RECORDING OF THE MONTH REVIEWS defies lines that criss-cross rapidly vision of this CD nonetheless more THIS MONTH’S CRITICS across her register. In the title role, than justify it being Recording of Cencic eventually eclipses the rest the Month. The production was Our critics number many of the top music specialists of the cast, conveying Siroe’s virtue first recorded in the superb acoustic whose knowledge and enthusiasm are second to none with fierce bravura. Virtuosic also of Athens’s Parnassos Hall, and is the playing of Armonia Atenea; was then fully staged at Versailles the instrumentalists’ crisp continuo under Cencic’s stage directorship. Terry Blain writer realisations and engaging dialogue Hopefully a DVD is around the Terry Blain was educated in Ireland and with the singers show their deep corner. Siroe is opera seria at its best, at Cambridge University, where his grasp of Hasse’s idioms. showing why it was that cognoscenti most influential teacher was fellow BBC The only disappointment is tenor called Hasse ‘the father of music’. Music Magazine contributor Michael Juan Sancho, who swoops in his PERFORMANCE HHHHH Tanner. As well as writing about music, attacks and strains in his top notes, RECORDING HHHHH Terry works regularly in radio, and spends his free time shortcomings which are highlighted trying to understand his lurcher dog Buddy. by the excellence of all the other cast ON THE PODCAST members, including mezzo-soprano Hear excerpts and a discussion Mary-Ellen Nesi as Siroe’s fiancée of this recording on the BBC Music John Allison Ivan Hewett Anna Picard and soprano Lauren Snouffer in a Magazine podcast, available free on editor Opera; critic, broadcaster, critic writer, critic iTunes or at www.classical-music.com trousers role. The excellence and Sunday Telegraph George Hall writer, George Pratt Nicholas Anderson editor, translator emeritus professor Baroque specialist Daniel Jaffé of music, University Garry Booth writer, critic of Huddersfield jazz writer & critic Erica Jeal critic, Anthony Pryer Q&A Geoff Brown The Guardian; lecturer, Goldsmiths, critic, The Times deputy editor, Opera University of London JULIA LEZHNEVA Anthony Burton Stephen Johnson Paul Riley writer, editor writer, BBC Radio 3 journalist, writer REBECCA FRANKS talks to the Russian soprano about Michael Church broadcaster Michael Scott the challenges and joys of recording Hasse’s Siroe critic, The Berta Joncus senior Rohan author, Independent lecturer, Goldsmiths, editor Christopher Cook University of London Nick Shave What are your memories of broadcaster, critic Erik Levi professor, journalist, writer the recording sessions? Martin Cotton University of London Jeremy Siepmann They are the most wonderful producer Max Loppert biographer, editor memories! I have to say Christopher Dingle critic, Opera Jan Smaczny recording in Athens in summer Professor of Music, Jon Lusk world professor of music, is a brilliant idea in itself – it Birmingham music journalist Queen’s, Belfast feels as if you are going on Conservatoire Andrew McGregor Geoffrey Smith holiday. I am so grateful to Max Misha Donat presenter, BBC presenter, Radio 3 Emanuel Cencic who allowed producer, writer Radio 3’s CD Review Michael Tanner us an exceptionally long Jessica Duchen David Nice writer, critic, The Spectator recording period of around 12 critic, novelist biographer Roger Thomas critic days, so we had time for days Hilary Finch Roger Nichols Kate Wakeling off. And working with Armonia critic, The Times French music writer, researcher Atenea and George Petrou Malcolm Hayes specialist Helen Wallace feels like being part of a family. biographer, Bayan Northcott consultant editor, The Armonia are extremely composer composer, writer BBC Music hard workers, giving all their Julian Haylock Tim Parry Barry Witherden strength and passion. It is hard writer, editor writer, editor critic to find an orchestra which works like this one. Key to symbols Star ratings are provided for both the What is Siroe like from a singer’s point of view? performance itself and either the recording’s sound From nearly all points of views – the libretto, orchestration, complex quality or a DVD’s presentation recitatives and all the incredible arias – Siroe is a complete masterpiece. Outstanding . HHHHH I’ve never performed anything that has the intensity of these melodies, Excellent �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� HHHH or makes these demands of range and coloratura. It’s music of drama Good ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� HHH and beauty. Laodice, my character, is basically the young mistress of Disappointing . HH Cosroe, the old King. She is perhaps a bit like Scarlett O’Hara in the Poor . H famous movie, and she also changes a lot through the opera. This element of change is so important in Siroe for all the characters; it means BBC Music Direct You can now buy CDs, DVDs or Books it is never boring to perform. I fully enjoy singing this role – Laodice is so reviewed in this issue from BBC Music Direct. The prices bright, young and fresh but also very deep. are given at the head of each review, and are inclusive of p&p for orders placed from within the UK. Which are your highlights from the opera? There are four simple ways to order I think the aria ‘Gelido in ogni vena’ (Act II, Scene 5) is probably one of the ● Order online at www.classical-music.com/shop first examples of the real tenor aria. In my opinion, it is the beginning ● Call +44 (0)1322 297 515 of the bel canto style, and I also feel that’s the case with ‘Mi lagnero ● Post the order form on p108 tacendò’ (Act II, Scene 1) and a few other arias. It seems like the bel canto ● Fax your order details to +44 (0)1689 888 800 era probably started much before we now think it did. To order CDs call BBC Music Direct +44 (0)1322 297 515; prices include P&P BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE 77.