"Premiered in 1732, Sosarme is a bit of a sleeper among Handel's mature operas, with only Anthony Lewis's 1954 recording in the current catalogue. That's a shame, as it possesses emotional depth as well as a swag of memorable arias. Contemporary audiences gave it a warm welcome, though the composer's last-minute attempt to avoid a diplomatic faux pas by switching settings from medieval Portugal to mythical Lydia hasn't helped its reputation."
"This lightly sprung performance from Opera Royal de Versailles under conductor Marco Angioloni goes some way to rehabilitating the work, even if the engineered sound and edgy string tone are a little in-your-face. Remy Bres-Feuillet is honey-toned in the title role, originally a vehicle for the great contralto castrato Senesino, with Sarah Charles suitably soubrettish as his beloved Elmira. Doubling as vocalist, Angioloni devours a great deal of scenery as the rancorous king of Lydia."
Sosarme premiered in 1732 and remains a lesser-known work among Handel's mature operas despite possessing emotional depth and several memorable arias. Only Anthony Lewis's 1954 recording remains in the catalogue, limiting exposure. The composer altered the setting from medieval Portugal to mythical Lydia to avoid diplomatic trouble, a change that affected the opera's reputation. Opera Royal de Versailles under Marco Angioloni offers a lightly sprung performance that helps rehabilitate the piece, though engineered sound and an edgy string tone can be intrusive. Standout singers include Remy Bres-Feuillet, Sarah Charles, Nicolo Balducci, Eleonore Pancrazi, and Giacomo Nanni.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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