Apollo E Dafne Armida Abbandonata

Description

Il pomo d’oro and Francesco Corti present Handel's Apollo e Dafne & Armida abbandonata with two exceptional vocalists: soprano Kathryn Lewek (Armida & Dafne) and baritone John Chest (Apollo). Handel composed these two cantatas shortly after his stay in Italy (1706-1709), and they demonstrate his knowledge of and gift for Italian opera music. Unlike opera, the supporting roles have been removed from these relatively compact cantatas, allowing for a focus on the main characters and enhancing the expressiveness of their music. Il pomo d’oro performs these pieces in a lively and colorful manner with a well-informed historical listening approach. The cantatas alternate between several charming orchestral pieces by Handel, including several movements from the suite Almira.