Genre:

Opera

Release Date:

Mar 2017

Subtitles:

EN/FR/DE/ES/IT (Giulio Cesare); EN/FR/DE (Rinaldo); EN/FR/DE/KO (Saul)

Sound Format:

2.0LPCM + 5.1 DTS

Catalog Number:

OA1225BD

Handel Box Set (Glyndebourne)

Sarah Connolly (Cesare (Giulio Cesare)); Angelika Kirchschlager (Sesto (Giulio Cesare)); Danielle de Niese (Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare)); Sonia Prina (Rinaldo (Rinaldo)); Anett Fritsch (Almirena (Rinaldo)); Brenda Rae (Armida (Rinaldo)); Christopher Purves (Saul (Saul)); Iestyn Davies (David (Saul)); Lucy Crowe (Merab (Saul));

This set brings together three of Handel’s most compelling works for thestage in lavish Glyndebourne productions featuring period-instrument accompaniment from the renowned Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. David McVicar directs an all-star cast in Giulio Cesare,combining serious insight with entertainment to bring the masterpiece to life, aided by vivid playing from the OAE under William Christie. In Robert Carsen’s fun-filled transformation of Rinaldo, lacrosse sticks and flying bicycles lend the fantasy’s warriors and witches contemporary chic, with conductor Ottavio Dantone leading a youthful cast from the keyboard in Handelian fashion. Director Barrie Kosky’s Glyndebourne debut, Saul stole the 2015 Festival season and had critics raving. The Glyndebourne chorus plays an outstanding role, and the OAE sparkles under Ivor Bolton, as the Old Testament story is retold in Handel’s time with witty anachronisms from costume designer Katrin Lea Tag.

GIULIO CESARE (2005)

Giulio Cesare - Sarah Connolly

Sesto Angelika - Kirchschlager

Cleopatra - Danielle De Niese

Conductor - William Christie

Director - David McVicar


RINALDO (2011)

Rinaldo - Sonia Prina

Almirena - Anett Fritsch

Argante - Luca Pisaroni

Conductor - Ottavio Dantone

Director - Robert Carsen


SAUL (2016)

Saul / Apparition of Samuel - Christopher Purves

David - Iestyn Davies

Merab - Lucy Crowe

Conductor - Ivor Bolton

Director - Barrie Kosky

Reviews

"Extravagantly laid out on three DVDs, the Opus Arte version is important in offering a fine period performance of this most popular of the Handel operas. William Christie conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and an outstanding cast in an account at once scholarly, lively and refreshing, a live recording of the 2005 production at Glyndebourne." (The Penguin Guide - Giulio Cesare)

"A splendid cast and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted with a firm hand by Ottavio Dantone, kept one’s spirits up. Sonia Prina’s mezzo-soprano excelled." (The Daily Telegraph - Rinaldo)

"Musically this evening is well-nigh flawless. No praise too high for the singing of Davies, Appleby, and Purves; of Lucy Crowe and Sophie Bevan as Merab and Michal respectively, and of Benjamin Hullett as a cross between a clown and a soothsayer." (The Independent ★★★★★)