George Frideric Händel (1685 - 1759) Opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV17 Dramma per musica in tre atti. Libretto: Nicola Francesco Haym after Giacomo Francesco Bussani The first performance at the King's Theatre in Haymarket, London on 20 February 1724. Aria: 'Va tacito e nascosto' Andreas Scholl, countertenor Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin [on period instruments] ------------------------ Artwork: Anacreon, Bacchus et l'Amour by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1848 Handel at the height of his glory! According to Charles Burney Handel's operas represented the most complete concerts during which, in addition to the most perfect singing and the effects of a mighty and well-disciplined orchestra, there were excellent acting and splendid scenes and stage decorations. Thanks to his numerous contacts with Italy, Handel had the opportunity of calling upon the most extrodinary castrati. On this recording we can hear the most beautiful arias ever written for these castrati who, thanks to countertenors like Andreas Scholl, have come back to life... Rezensionen J. Kesting in FonoForum 6 / 99: "Hört man ihn in den für Senesino geschriebenen Arien aus "Rodelinda", glaubt man die von Quantz beschriebene Stimme zu hören: "Eine kraftvolle, klare, ausgeglichene und süße Contralto- Stimme mit einer perfekten Intonation". Auch der Aus- führung expressiver Koloraturen bleibt Scholl nichts schuldig."