Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre return to Handel with a complete recording of his opera Alcina. The title role is interpreted by Magdalena Kožena, who reunites with Les Musiciens and maestro Minkowski after a series of acclaimed baroque recordings. She is joined by an excellent casts of soloists, consisting of Erin Morley (Morgana), Anna Bonitatibus (Ruggiero), Elzabeth DeShong (Bradamante), Alois Muhlbacher (Oberto), Valerio Contaldo (Oronte) and Alex Rosen (Melisso). This studio recording transports the listener to Alcina's enchanted island, and shows Handel at the peak of his power: the score is dramatic, lush and colourful as well as introspective and profound where the story requires it. Since it's foundation in 1982, and under the baton of it's founder and musical director Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre have developed into one of the world's best period-instrument ensembles, with a vast discography. The ensemble returns to Pentatone after having presented Mozart's Mass in C Minor in 2020. Alcina is star mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena's fifth album as part of her exclusive collaboration with Pentatone, after having presented the baroque cantatas recital album Il giardino dei sospiri and the songs in chamber-musical setting project Soiree in 2019, as well as Nostalgia together with Yefim Bronfman (2021) and Folk Songs with the Czech Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle (2023). The other soloists all make their Pentatone debut.
6 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Questo è il cielo di contenti
7 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Gavotte
8 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1.Sarabande
9 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Menuet
10 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Gavotte
11 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Ecco l'infido
12 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Di, cor mio, quanto t'amai
13 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Generasi guerrier
14 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Chi m'insegna il caro padre
15 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Mi ravvisi, Ruggier, dimmi?
16 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Di te mi rido
17 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Qua dunque ne veniste
18 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Io sono tua difesa
19 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. È gelosia
20 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Io dunque
21 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. La cerco invano
22 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Semplicetta! A donna credi?
23 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Ah!Infedele, Indedel!
24 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Regina, il tuo soggiorno
25 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Sì, son quella
26 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Se nemico mi fossi
27 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Bradamante favella?
28 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. La bocca vaga
29 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. A quai strani perigli
30 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Fuggi, cor mio
31 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 1. Tornami a vagheggiar
- Disc 2 -
1 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Col celarvi a chi v'ama un momento
2 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Taci, taci, corarda
3 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Qual portento
4 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Atlante, dove sei?
5 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Pensa a chi geme d'amore piagata
6 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Qual odio ingiusto contro me?
7 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Vorrei vendicarmi del perfido cor
8 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Chi scuopre al mio pensiero
9 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Mi lusgina il dolce affetto
10 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. S'acquieti il rio sospetto
11 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. E la tua pace
12 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Ama, sospira
13 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Non scorgo nel tuo viso
14 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Mio bel tesoro
15 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Regina, io cerco invano
16 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Tra speme e timore
17 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Regina, sei tradita
18 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Ah, mio cor!
19 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Or che dici, Morgana?
20 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Alla offesa il disprezzo
21 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. È un folle
22 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Ed è ver che mi narri?
23 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Eccomi a' piedi tuoi
24 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Verdi prati
25 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Ah! Ruggiero crude!
26 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Ombre pallide
27 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Entrée des Songs agréables
28 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Entrée des Songes funestes
29 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 2. Entrée des Songes agréables effrayés
- Disc 3 -
1 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Sinfonia
2 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Voglio amar e disamar
3 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Credete al mio dolore
4 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. M'ingranna, me ne avveggo
5 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Un momento di contento
6 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Molestissimo incontro
7 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Ma quando tornerai
8 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Tutta d'armate square
9 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Sta nell'ircana pietrosa tana
10 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Vanne tu seco ancora
11 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. All'alma fedel
12 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Niuna forza l'arresta
13 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Mi restano le lagrime
14 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Sin per le vie del sole
15 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Già vicno è'l momento
16 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Barbara! Io ben lo so
17 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Le lusinghe, gl'inganni non udir più
18 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Non è amor
19 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Prendi, e vivi
20 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Ah, mio Ruggier, che tenti?
21 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Misera, ah, no!
22 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Ah, che tardi?
23 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Dall'orror di notte cieca
24 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Entrée
25 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Tamburino
26 Alcina, HWV 34~Act 3. Dopo tante amare
Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre return to Handel with a complete recording of his opera Alcina. The title role is interpreted by Magdalena Kožena, who reunites with Les Musiciens and maestro Minkowski after a series of acclaimed baroque recordings. She is joined by an excellent casts of soloists, consisting of Erin Morley (Morgana), Anna Bonitatibus (Ruggiero), Elzabeth DeShong (Bradamante), Alois Muhlbacher (Oberto), Valerio Contaldo (Oronte) and Alex Rosen (Melisso). This studio recording transports the listener to Alcina's enchanted island, and shows Handel at the peak of his power: the score is dramatic, lush and colourful as well as introspective and profound where the story requires it. Since it's foundation in 1982, and under the baton of it's founder and musical director Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre have developed into one of the world's best period-instrument ensembles, with a vast discography. The ensemble returns to Pentatone after having presented Mozart's Mass in C Minor in 2020. Alcina is star mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena's fifth album as part of her exclusive collaboration with Pentatone, after having presented the baroque cantatas recital album Il giardino dei sospiri and the songs in chamber-musical setting project Soiree in 2019, as well as Nostalgia together with Yefim Bronfman (2021) and Folk Songs with the Czech Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle (2023). The other soloists all make their Pentatone debut.