Composed for the Royal Academy of Music in London—and one of three major operas that Handel completed in 1724 alone—Rodelinda is a musical and dramatic feast. Telling the story of Queen Rodelinda’s unwavering love for her king, who’s presumed dead in battle, it brings out the best in Handel. Here, its rich and often beautiful score is brought to life by British conductor Harry Bicket, The English Concert, and a stellar British cast. Soprano Lucy Crowe is in superb form as the steely Queen Rodelinda, and Iestyn Davies, playing her wronged King Bertarido, proves himself one of the country’s greatest countertenors (see his breathtaking performance of Act I’s “Dove sei, amato bene?”). Contralto Jess Dandy, meanwhile, cuts a formidable figure as Bertarido’s sister Eduige on “De’ miei scherni”. Made in September 2020, with a socially distanced cast and orchestra, this Rodelinda is a magnificent achievement.
- René Jacobs, Bernarda Fink, Jennifer Larmore, Barbara Schlick, Marianne Rorholm & Concert Köln
- Musica Antiqua Köln & Reinhard Goebel
- Academy of Ancient Music & Richard Egarr
- Magdalena Kožená, John Eliot Gardiner, Nicolas Teste, Nathalie Stutzmann, English Baroque Soloists, Paul Agnew, Monteverdi Choir, Peter Harvey, Joanne Lunn, Kobie Van Rensburg & William Towers
- Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
- The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Sir Philip Ledger, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Eiddwen Harrhy, Dame Felicity Lott, Charles Brett, Stephen Roberts & Ian Partridge