Empire records
That’s what it must have been like in 1726 London when Handel composed Alessandro for perhaps the three most famous (and expensive) singers of the day.
Max Emanuel Cencic
20 pieces since 2011 — in 9 roles, at 1 company, most often at Internationale Händel Festspiele Karlsruhe.
20
pieces
9
roles
1
company
16
years
By role
By company
Role Alessandro
Role Andronico
Saxon violence
His shaved head in striking contrast to his dark beard and glinting eyes, the implacable Tartar conqueror glowers at us from the CD cover, while the uncropped photo of countertenor Xavier Sabata (above) is even more disturbing, featuring his raised fist and forearm tightly wrapped in a leather belt.
Role Arsamene
Let’s hear it for the boa
What happens in Karlsruhe stays in Karlsruhe!
Role Farnace
Role Herald of the Amphyctions
The Reimann for the job
In 2006, Aribert Reimann was offered a commission to create a new work for Vienna State Opera. After initial hesitation—”The creative process can sometimes be rather a struggle and isn’t necessarily a pleasant experience”—he went to work. After a flirtation with a Camus drama, he settled on Franz Grillparzer’s version of Medea as his subject […]
Role Mandane
Veni, vidi, Vinci!
Not only cursed to bear a name nearly identical to that of one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived, Leonardo Vinci also had the misfortune to die just three months after the premiere of his greatest opera, reportedly murdered with a cup of poisoned chocolate at the age of 36.
Role Rinaldo
Less than hero
Iestyn Davies’s theatrical blandness combined with his vocal unsuitability for the role left a hole at the center of Rinaldo.
Role Teseo
I’ll be hard to Handel, I promise you that
For my early self-birthday gift “Trove Thursday” offers a Handel-orgy of rarely done works.
Role Valentiniano
Just my Gluck
For all his historical importance Christoph Willibald Gluck remains one of the least known and performed of the great opera composers.