British countertenor Iestyn Davies is one of the fastest rising stars on the concert and opera circuit. Following his highly acclaimed recording of Porpora cantatas, he returns for a second solo album with Hyperion, a selection of arias written for Gaetano Guadagni. Italian-born Guadagni was the first 'modern' castrato, famed all over Europe for the lyric purity of his voice and his powerful, naturalistic acting style. Not only did he enjoy a close artistic relationship with Handel, who nurtured Guadagni's voice to fit the alto roles in his English oratorios, but he effectively created the role of Orpheus in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, an opera he thoroughly made his own. Here, Iestyn Davies is joined again by the renowned period-instrument band Arcangelo, directed by Jonathan Cohen.
1 O Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless (From Saul - Handel)
2 The Raptur'd Soul (From Theodora-Handel)
3 Yet, Can I Hear That Dulcet Lay (From the Choice of Hercules-Handel)
4 Destructive War (From Belshazzar-Handel)
5 Ah Che Dissi! (From Didone Abbandonata- Hasse)
6 Se Esto Sul Lido (From Didone Abbandonata-Hasse)
7 Odi Cola la Frigia Tromba? (From Didone Abbandonata- Hasse)
8 A Trionfar Mi Chiama (From Didone Abbandonata- Hasse)
9 Say, Lovely Dream (From the Fairies- Smith)
10 Vengeance, O Come Inspire Me ! (From Alfred- Arne)
11 Allegro Di Molto (Orchester-Sinfonie in D Major - Cpe Bach)
12 Largo
13 Presto
14 Ah! Non Turbi Il Mio Riposo (From Telemaco- Gluck)
15 The Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Gluck)
16 Che Puro Ciel! (From Orfeo Ed Euridice-Gluck)
17 Ahime! Dove Trascorsi? (From Orfeo Ed Euridice-Gluck)
18 Che Faro Senza Euridice? (From Orfeo Ed Euridice-Gluck)
19 Pensa a Serbarmi, O Cara (Guadagni)
British countertenor Iestyn Davies is one of the fastest rising stars on the concert and opera circuit. Following his highly acclaimed recording of Porpora cantatas, he returns for a second solo album with Hyperion, a selection of arias written for Gaetano Guadagni. Italian-born Guadagni was the first 'modern' castrato, famed all over Europe for the lyric purity of his voice and his powerful, naturalistic acting style. Not only did he enjoy a close artistic relationship with Handel, who nurtured Guadagni's voice to fit the alto roles in his English oratorios, but he effectively created the role of Orpheus in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, an opera he thoroughly made his own. Here, Iestyn Davies is joined again by the renowned period-instrument band Arcangelo, directed by Jonathan Cohen.
