Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Overture
2. Recit.: Oh D�i! quivi non scorgo alcun sentiero! (Bradamante, Melisso, Morgana)
3. Aria: O s'apre al riso (Morgana)
4. Chorus: Questo � il cielo de' contenti
5. Ballet
6. Recit.: Ecco l'infido (Bradamante, Melisso, Alcina)
7. Aria: Di', cor mio, quanto t'amai (Alcina)
8. Recit.: Generosi guerrier, deh! (Oberto, Melisso, Bradamante)
9. Aria: Chi m'insegna il caro padre? (Oberto)
10. Recit.: Mi ravvisi, Ruggier, dimmi? (Bradamante, Ruggiero, Melisso)
11. Aria: Di te mi rido, semplice stolto (Ruggiero)
12. Recit.: Qua dunque ne veniste (Oronte, Bradamante)
13. Recit.: Io sono tua difesa (Morgana, Bradamante)
14. Aria: � gelosia (Bradamante)
15. Recit.: Io dunque (Oronte, Morgana)
16. Recit.: La cerco in vano (Ruggiero, Oronte)
17. Aria: Semplicetto! a donna credi? (Oronte)
18. Recit.: Ah, infedele, infedel! (Ruggiero, Alcina) - (Recit.: Se nemico mi fossi (Bradamante, Ruggiero)
19. Recit.: Bradamante favella? (Ruggiero, Melisso, Bradamante)
20. Aria: La bocca vaga, quell'occhio nero (Ruggiero)
21. Recit.: A quai strani perigli (Melisso, Bradamante)
22. Recit.: Fuggi, cor mio, ti affretta! (Morgana, Bradamante)
23. Aria: Tornami a vagheggiar (Morgana)
24. Aria: Col celarvi a chi v'ama un momento (Ruggiero)
25. Recit.: Taci, taci, codardo (Melisso, Ruggiero)
26. Aria: Qual portento mi richiama (Ruggiero)
27. Recit.: Atlante, dove sei? (Ruggiero, Melisso)
28. Aria: Pensa a chi geme (Melisso)

Disc 2:

1. Recit.: Qual odio ingiusto contro me? (Bradamante, Ruggiero)
2. Aria: Vorrei vendicarmi (Bradamante)
3. Recit.: Chi scopre al mio pensiero (Ruggiero)
4. Aria: Mi lusinga il dolce affetto (Ruggiero)
5. Recit.: S'acquieti il rio sospetto (Alcina, Morgana)
6. Recit.: E la tua pace (Morgana, Alcina, Ruggiero)
7. Aria: Ama, sospira (Morgana)
8. Recit.: Non scorgo nel tuo viso (Alcina, Ruggiero)
9. Aria: Mio bel tesoro (Ruggiero)
10. Recit.: Reina: io cerco in vano (Oberto, Alcina)
11. Aria: Tra speme e timore (Oberto)
12. Recit.: Reina, sei tradita (Oronte, Alcina)
13. Aria: Ah! mio cor! schernito sei! (Alcina)
14. Recit.: Or, che dici, Morgana? (Oronte, Morgana)
15. Recit.: All'offesa, il disprezzo giunge l'ingrata? (Oronte)
16. Aria: � un folle, � un vile affetto (Oronte)
17. Recit.: Ed � ver che mi narri? (Oberto, Bradamante)
18. Recit.: Eccomi a' piedi tuoi (Ruggiero, Bradamante, Morgana)
19. Aria: Verdi prati, selve amene (Ruggiero)
20. Recit.: Ah! Ruggiero crudel (Alcina)
21. Aria: Ombre pallide, lo so, mi udite (Alcina)
22. Ballet
23. Le combat des songes funestes et agr�ables

Disc 3:

1. Sinfonia
2. Recit.: Voglio amar e disamar (Oronte, Morgana)
3. Aria: Credete al mio dolore (Morgana)
4. Recit.: M'inganna, me n'avveggo (Oronte)
5. Aria: Un momento di contento (Oronte)
6. Recit.: Molestissimo incontro! (Ruggiero, Alcina)
7. Aria: Ma quando tornerai (Alcina)
8. Recit.: Tutta d'armate squadre (Melisso, Ruggiero, Bradamante)
9. Aria: Sta nell'Ircana pietrosa tana (Ruggiero)
10. Recit.: Vanne tu seco ancora (Melisso, Bradamante)
11. Aria: All'alma fedel (Bradamante)
12. Recit.: Niuna forza lo arresta (Oronte, Alcina)
13. Aria: Mi restano le lagrime (Alcina)
14. Chorus: Sin per le vie del sole
15. Recit.: Gi� vicino � il momento (Oberto, Alcina)
16. Aria: Barbara! Io ben lo so (Oberto)
17. Recit.: Le lusinghe, gl'inganni, non udir pi� (Bradamante, Alcina, Ruggiero)
18. Trio: Non � amor, n� gelosia (Alcina, Bradamante, Ruggiero)
19. Recit.: Prendi, e vivi (Ruggiero, Oronte)
20. Recit.: Ah mio Ruggier, che tenti? (Alcina, Ruggiero, Bradamante) Rec
21. Chorus: Dall'orror di notte cieca
22. Ballet
23. Tamburino
24. Chorus: Doppo tante amare pene
25. Recit.: Vo cercando la bella cagion (Ruggiero)
26. Aria: Bramo di trionfar (Ruggiero)
27. Chorus: Questo � il cielo de' contenti

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20710 in Music
• Released on: 2006-08-07
• Number of discs: 3
• Formats: Box set, Original recording reissued
• Dimensions: .30 pounds
• Running time: 217 minutes

Customer Reviews

The Alcina to own Look no Further
I picked this set up in the late eighties from a music library and was spellbound by the magnificant singing and the genius of Handel. At the time I was a student and could not afford to purchase a 3CD full price boxed set.

Years later when I did have disposable income this set was unfortunately deleted from the catalogue so I turned towards the newer Christie set which reveiwers had gave a positive reception too.

How disappointed was I that I did not feel the same affection for this opera. What was it I asked myself - have I grown out of it? has the magic gone? It had to be this performance.

Christie's Alcina continued to collect dust on my shelf. I had enough I had to find the Hickox version. I endeavoured to track down my lost love to rekindle the feelings and emotions I felt when I first heard it. But to no avail.

And what happens this year? EMI finally see sense and released the Hickox recording on its Mid Priced Opera Series. You can't imagine how fast I purchased this from good ole Amazon.

So when the set comes through the post I put the first disc in and immediately it sounds different. This was the sound, this was the beauty I remember. The wonderful opening ballet (which is cut in Christie's version) - Then I hit Auger's beautiful singing of "Di, cor mio" and my heart stops and it melts - I can't get off disc 1 its too wonderful.

I don't want to be unfair to Christie et al - this is by no means a bad performance, his conducting is of a high standard, the problem is the singing and mainly Fleming she does not a candle up to Auger on the Hickox set.

With the EMI release I'm just disappointed that it comes in slipcase form rather than a proper hard case and it lacks a full libretto. For now I'll appreciate the music, but if I find the old full price version of the Hickox I will snap it up.

In conclusion unless you have to have the latest (and not the greatest) avoid the Christie set. I will keep mine as a reminder how the magic can be lost.

Glorious stuff
This is a wonderful studio recording of one of Handel's most accomplished opera's. Unlike Christie's live recording where the voices seem too remote this production has excellent balance and faultless sound.

Arleen Auger is magnificent. She is involved and passionate and has a voice of both power and beauty. Indeed, the whole cast is second to none.

Where this set surpasses Christie is the warmth and immediacy of the performance.

Buy it, it is one of the best Handel performances to have been recorded!

Beware
Although enjoyable enough this is actually a remastered recording from 1986. Beware also the packaging - the three CDs come in cheap cardboard sleeves and the very flimsy insert advises that the libretto can be downloaded elsewhere - not exactly generous