Händel: Scipione (1726) Rousset,christophe/les Talens Lyriques Book 3 CDs

Handel's opera Scipione conducted by Christophe Rousset, the French baroque pioneer is re-issued in this medium-priced item, with a nice information booklet (with Rousset's own preface very movingly written). The performance is immaculate, with Sandrine Piau and Derek Lee Ragin in the lead roles. This was first recorded in 1994, shortly after Rousset and Derek Lee Ragin collaborated in the pioneering film (Belgian production) 'Farinella Il Castrato'. The entire cast: Sandrine Piau (Berenice); Vanda Tabery (Armira); Doris Lamprecht (Lucejo); Derek Lee Ragin (Scipione); Guy Flechter (Lelio); Olivier Lallouette (Ernando); Talens Lyriques (period instruments), conducted by Rousset. The opera was completed in 1726, following three of Handel's greatest operas, Giulio Cesare, Tamerlano, and Rodelinda. The opera is performed without cuts. Tempi are never rushed,and the continuo is performed as it should be. Da capo ornaments are frequently tasteful and idiomatic, though they occasionally stray