Back in the nineteenth century, humorist Edward Lear wrote in his Nonsense Alphabet the following verse for the letter "X:" "X was King Xerxes, whom Papa much wished to know; but this he could not do, because Xerxes died long ago." Much of the same condition can be applied to George Frideric Handel's 1738 opera about Xerxes, properly referred to in Italian as Serse. It is known by one very famous excerpt, the Largo or Ombrai mai fu, but as an integral unit the three-act opera has seldom demonstrated much staying power in ...
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Back in the nineteenth century, humorist Edward Lear wrote in his Nonsense Alphabet the following verse for the letter "X:" "X was King Xerxes, whom Papa much wished to know; but this he could not do, because Xerxes died long ago." Much of the same condition can be applied to George Frideric Handel's 1738 opera about Xerxes, properly referred to in Italian as Serse. It is known by one very famous excerpt, the Largo or Ombrai mai fu, but as an integral unit the three-act opera has seldom demonstrated much staying power in the active catalog or the operatic repertory. The few recordings of Serse -- admittedly a mixed bag -- have disappeared quickly and without a trace. Finally, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants have brought Serse on the Virgin Veritas imprint and it is as satisfying as anyone would desire. Mezzo soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter portrays the title role along with a stellar cast that includes Sandrine Piau, Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, and Giovanni Furlanetto. The orchestral complement...
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Add this copy of Handel: Serse to cart. $15.83, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Virgin Vertias.
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