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Muzio Scevola--a Strange One

01/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the strange background stories in baroque opera, this one is about the wackiest--Handel agreed to take part in a sort of collegiate competition: three composers on the London scene would each write an act of a Rolli libretto, for the public to judge. Just what the reward was, the notes for this Newport Classic do not specify. That Handel--already the toast of English/Italian opera--would participate in this says much about his sense of sport and whimsy.
Anyhow, thanks to the excellent American team who have recorded all of Handel's third act and give us a taste of the others, just to make it clear who the "winner" is. Julianne Baird and Jennifer Lane continue to show here why they are tops in their art as does bass/producer John Ostendorf and the wonderful young conductor Rudolph Palmer. A curio to be sure, but fun and worth it."

A little review Opera Handel- Muzio/Baird,Ostendorf,Lane,For

Der Händelfan | Herford | 08/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the Italian Paolo Rolli wrote the libretto for Muzio Scevola for the opera.

For reasons of the time-saver three composers presumably wrote at the opera at the same time. The first act which apparently is no longer available today wrote Filippo Amadei, the first cellist of the opera. The second part was written by Giovanni Bononcini who triumphed over the two others with no trouble at all, Georg Friedrich Händel composed the third part, so the courtier De Fabrice. A part of the second act and the third part composed by Händel is documented on the production of new port Classic being here. The CD was published in 1992 and it was a world debut at that time on CD.

The opera became played for the first time 1721 in London. The initial Enthusiasm fell off fast, however, relatively. The music is converted by Rudolph Palmer (conductor) and John Ostendorf (producer) in a masterly manner. The Brewer Chamber orchestra and the singer guild Fortunato, Lane, Urrey, Ostendorf, Mills, Baird and Matthews sing and play instruments on high Neveau.





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Muzio Scevola

Der Händelfan | 01/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The background of this Handel one-act (or to be more accurate "Third Act")has to be about the strangest in the colorful history of baroque opera--for some reason Handel entered a sort of wacky competition with two other London composers, who all took roughly the same Italian plot line and submitted their "versions" (in fact, each was assigned an act).
Why Handel would take part in this collegiate activity when he was already the toast of the opera scene in England says much about his sense of humor and sport.
Anyway, thanks to the American artists who recorded, if not all three ventures, at least give us Handel's complete portion and a few tastes of the other--we have it on CD, with the customary excellent work of Julianne Baird and Jennifer Lane--top-flight baroque performers and producer/bass John Ostendorf as well.
And the music!! Best of all, even when he's half-trying, Handel composes rings around the others of his day. A lovely curio."