'Here is a recording to treasure both for the sensitive and well-sustained singing of Christopher Purves and for the wonderfully wide expressive range of Handel's music.' Nicholas Anderson
Handel's Finest Arias for Base Voice 'Sibilar gli angui d'Aletto' from Rinaldo 'I rage, I melt, I burn!' from Acis and Galatea 'O ruddier than the cherry' from Acis and Galatea 'Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori' from Aci, Galatea e Polifemo 'If I give thee honour due' from L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato 'Mirth, admit me of thy crew' from L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato 'Qual'insolita luce' from La Resurrezione 'Caddi, è ver' from La Resurrezione 'Tears, such as tender Fathers shed' from Deborah 'To pow'r immortal my first thanks are due' from Belshazzar 'Impari ognun da Orlando' from Orlando 'Sorge infausta una procella' from Orlando Racks, gibbets, sword and fire' from Theodora 'Volate più dei venti' from Muzio Scevola 'Vieni, o caro' from Agrippina 'Nel mondo e nell'abisso' from Riccardo Primo, Re d'Inghilterra 'Mie piante correcte' from Apollo e Dafne 'Cara pianta' from Apollo e Dafne 'Revenge, Timotheus cries' from Alexander's Feast 'Leave me, loathsome light' from Semele
Christopher Purves (bass); Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen
Hyperion CDA 67842 70:54 mins
For a full review pick up a copy of the February issue of BBC Music Magazine
Audio clip: from 'Sibilar gli angui d'Aletto'