Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Recitativo: Da Quel Giorno Fatale
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Aria: Un Pensiero Voli In Ciel
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Recitativo: Ma Fermati Pensier
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Aria: Per Te Lasciai La Luce
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Recitativo: Non Ti Bastava, Ingrato
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Aria: Lascia Omai Le Brune Vele/Recitativo: Ma Siamo Giunti In Lete
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Entree
Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Arietta E Recitativo: In Queste Amene Piagge Serene (Minuet)/Si, Disse...
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Recitativo: O Numi Eterni!
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Aria: Gia Superbo Del Mio Affanno
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Recitativo: Ma Voi Forse Nel Cielo
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Aria: Il Suol Che Preme
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Recitativo: Ah! Che Ancor Nell'abisso/Furioso: Questi La Disperata Anima Mia
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Aria: Alla Salma Infedel Porga La Pena
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Recitativo: A Voi, A Voi, Padre, Consorte
La Lucrezia, HWV 145: Arioso: Gia Nel Seno Comincia A Compir/Furioso: Ma Se Qui Non M'e Dato
Tra Le Fiamme, HWV 170: Aria: Tra Le Fiamme Tu Scherz/Recitativo: Dedalo Gia Le Fortunate Penne - Magdalena Kozena
Tra Le Fiamme, HWV 170: Aria: Pien Di Nuovo E Bel Diletto/Recitivo: Si, Si Pur Troppo E Vero - Magdalena Kozena
Tra Le Fiamme, HWV 170: Aria: Voli Per L'aria Chi Puo Volare/Recitativo: L'uomo, Che Nacque Per... - Magdalena Kozena
Tra Le Fiamme, HWV 170: Da Capo: Tra Le Fiamme Tu Scherzi - Magdalena Kozena
Only a few years since emerging as a notable singer, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozená hasn't stopped enchanting her audience. It is, after all, a rare pleasure to experience this unique voice with its warm and elegant... more » timbre. Some of its aspects are apparent in her preceding recital, an unusual--and unusually beautiful--program of Czech love songs. With this account of Handel's Italian Cantatas, Kozená confirms the immense scope of her gifts. Better yet, her voice is once more "affirmed": it seems fresher, conveying even more emotion. Marc Minkowski and his Musiciens du Louvre are hardly to be overlooked in this absolute success. They understand in their bones the kind of scarcely veiled energy that's fitting for the music of Handel. --Pierre Guillaume« less
Only a few years since emerging as a notable singer, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozená hasn't stopped enchanting her audience. It is, after all, a rare pleasure to experience this unique voice with its warm and elegant timbre. Some of its aspects are apparent in her preceding recital, an unusual--and unusually beautiful--program of Czech love songs. With this account of Handel's Italian Cantatas, Kozená confirms the immense scope of her gifts. Better yet, her voice is once more "affirmed": it seems fresher, conveying even more emotion. Marc Minkowski and his Musiciens du Louvre are hardly to be overlooked in this absolute success. They understand in their bones the kind of scarcely veiled energy that's fitting for the music of Handel. --Pierre Guillaume
Controversial, not for everybody but fascinating listening
vocalfanatic | Ramat-Hasharon Israel | 01/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"the title says it all - it really isnt for canary-fanciers. These early Handel pieces are mini-dramas and make fascinating, dramatic and often highly beautiful music, sometimes comparable (as in La Lucrezia) to Dido's lament (in Purcell's opus). Kozena knows that this is dramatic stuff and she really gives her all. This is no early-music milksop business and Minkowsky fans will know exactly what to expect here. I have to say that I was really surprised to hear what Miss Kozena achieves here, after her Bach arias cd. She is a totally different artist - she really has all those colors in her voice. It is true that sometimes there's a rough edge or suspect intonation, but the whole achievement raises her a few leagues in my opinion. Truly fascinating release, and thank you, Minkowsky and Kozena, for the rare opportunity of hearing these works (especially the first one)."
A delightful album!
Julio Castro Karg | Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico | 06/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was introduced to Magdalena Kozená's voice through her very nice "Bach Arias" album a couple of years ago. Then, shortly afterwards a good friend of mine told me how wonderful this Handel album also was!
One day, I was riding in a friend's car. He had brought this album solely for me to listen and played track #3 ("Delirio Amoroso, HWV 99: Aria: Un Pensiero Voli In Ciel"). I was instantly convinced!
This whole CD is delightful, a sheer joy! Whenever I try to convince anyone of it's beauty I simply play track #3. It's funny but it always works!!!
Give track #3 a try!..."
Magdalena Rocks
phatt | USA | 03/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not alot of this is new to the catalog, but Kozena does a tremendous job. She blows away not only Gens but also the classic Smith, Handel cantata performances. Minkowski does his formitable job (once again). An absolute keeper - buy it!"
Two out of three
klavierspiel | TX, USA | 05/29/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Magdalena Kozena is a current favorite of the classical vocal recording scene, no small feat, with an extensive discography focusing mainly on early and Czech music. There are many pleasures to be had from this recording of three of Handel's Italian solo cantatas. Les Musiciens du Louvre is a superb Baroque ensemble, and its director, Marc Minkowski, has opted for a considerable variety of sound in the continuo that livens the recitatives in particular.
When she is not pressed by the frequently extremely quick tempi or going for too much dramatic weight in the recitatives, Kozena sings with fresh, pleasing tone and considerable fluency in the frequently intricate coloratura passages. Overall two of the cantatas, "Delirio amoroso" and "Tra le fiamme," come off well. The third, "La Lucrezia," of greater emotional range and vocally the most demanding, finds both Kozena and Minkowski going all-out for drama. Kozena's voice is simply not up to the demands she makes on it here, with consequent white, off-pitch and frequently plain unpleasant results. Whether the intended interpretation was her idea, Minkowski's, or a collaboration, it is ill-judged in terms of her particular strengths, and consequently a major blot on an otherwise good recording."
Beautiful voice interesting music
J. TIMMERMAN | Lawson, NSW Australia | 04/14/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not a huge vocal fan but I do generally like Baroque vocal, especially Handel. So I like the fact that the cantatas here are very lyrical with just a touch of drama, all in all not too heavily serious so quite easy to absorb. Kozena's voice is outstanding as usual, one of the best in the business and Minkowski's sprightly accompaniment is very fine. Arguably this must be one of the best Handel Cantatas albums around."
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1
