“Tolomeo” by Alan Curtis

I listened to Handel’s “Tolomeo” conducted by Alan Curtis. This opera is not masterpiece like  “Gulio Cesare” or “Ariodante”, but like “Ariodante”, it is filled with heart wrenching beautiful music.

Comparing with his “Alcina”, Alan Curtis’ orchestration in this production is much livelier. The quality of the sound is much refined also. But I don’t call his music “passionate”. And it might be problem. Because Handel is very passionate composer. Like Vivaldi and Monteverdi, he also has strong musical instinctive sparks. Alan Curtis’ music does not have them. His music is calm, slow, sensitive and soft. It might be because I’m coming from rock’n roll field, I can use some more passion.

 I like the ensemble of singers in this production better. They have much lighter beautiful voices with not completely rich in emotional expressions but with more expressiveness.

The most expressive singer in it is mezzo-soprano, Romina Basso as Alexander. I previously listened to her clip of Vivaldi’s aria, “Vedro con mio diletto”. She sung it in her own slowest bluesy melancholic tone. She has very expressive originality.

 I liked Ann Hallenberg’s full, light and clear mezzo-soprano voice as the title role of Ptolemy even though her singing didn’t impress me strong enough in this production. But she’s someone whom I look forward to listen to more. 

Karina Gauvin as Seleuce has beautiful pearl like rich soprano voice. She also sung in “Alcina”. Her voice reminds me the richness of Lynne Dawson’s voice but she doesn’t have same expressive power.  Her singings in neither production give me strong impression. If she could put more emotional nuance in her singing, I think she would be really wonderful singer.

Anna Bonitatibus as Elisa has beautiful soprano voice also and sung little more expressively.

The story of the opera is based on the dramatic true story of Ptolemy IX Sorter II, king of Egypt and Cyprus (116-81 BC)(not famous Cleopatra’s crazy half brother).

He was removed from the throne by his mother in favor of his younger brother, Alexander and was forced into exile in Cyprus. He doesn’t care for the power, the only thing he cares is his wife, Seleuse whom he was separated from by his mother and he believes is dead.

On a beach on the island of Cyprus, when he tries to kill himself from despair, he saves a shipwrecked sailor who turns out to be Alexander. His urge is to kill his brother for revenge but changes his mind because he couldn’t be the offender of the crime he is victim of.  

Alexander is found and cared by Elisa, the sister of Cypriot ruler, Araspe. He falls in love with her beauty. Bust she is in love with a Shepherd, “Osmin” who is the disguised Ptolemy.

Elisa tells Ptolemy that she wishes to save him from sorrow he’s in. But only thing he can think of is Seleuse. Exhausted, he falls asleep.  

Meanwhile, Seleuse is also in Cyprus because she heard that her husband was exiled and in hiding there. She’s been in search of him everywhere as shepherdess, “Delia”. She became the love interest of Apraspe.

While she is aimlessly wondering in search of her husband, she thinks she can recognize him in the figure of a sleeping shepherd. And when she tries to get closer look, she is seen by Araspe who immediately becomes jealous and insist on killing the shepherd.  She flees in fear. Ptolemy wakes up by the commotion and thinks he saw his wife’s shadow but insists he doesn’t know anyone name “Delia”.

Hearing this episode, Elisa asks Ptolemy about “Delia”. By this time, he is in the psychological point he just doesn't care for his own safety anymore and let her carelessly know who he really is. Araspe appears and Elisa asks him to give her permission to take Ptolemy to see “Delia” to clarify their identities.

Ptolemy is very happy to see his wife alive and tries to embrace her. But Seleuse pretends not knowing him. Elisa now knows who he really is and tells him if he marries her, he can regain his throne with her and her brother’s power.  He refuses and tells her he loves only his wife.

From anger, Elisa asks Alexander to kill Ptolemy. Alexander wishes bringing Ptolemy back to the throne, which he thinks is the righteous thing to do. And while Alexander is still hunted by Elisa’s beauty, now her cruelty also frightens him.

Araspe captures both Ptolemy and Seleuse when they finally recognized each other. Seleuse’s plea to save their lives was rejected by angry Araspe. Araspe suggests his alley Alexander to kill Ptolemy. Alexander tells him that Ptolemy is to come with him to Egypt alive. Araspe takes it as his hesitation to kill his own blood family. So he secretly plans to execute him instead.

Seleuse begs Ptolemy to renounce her and marry Elisa in order to save his life as commanded by Elisa but he strongly refuses. And instead, they reaffirm their love for each other. Angry Elisa declares death sentence to both.

Ptolemy drinks poison Elisa sent him after he cursed all the men and heavens that wronged him and his wife. Araspe shows his body to Alexander who after receiving the news of his mother’s death, is appalled by what he saw. But Elisa tells them she had Seleuse executed and gave Ptolemy sleeping portion instead of poison. Araspe curses her for killing Seleuse.

Ptolemy wakes and sees Seleuse who was rescued previously by Alexander from the executioner’s hand. They embrace each other. And the brothers reconcile.

Stille Amare (Anne Hellenberg)

Cielo Ingiusto (Anne Hellenberg)

Non Lo Dirò Col Labbro (Romina Basso)

Quell'Onda Che Si Frange (Anna Bonitatibus)

Mi Volgo Ad Ogni Fronda (Karina Gauvin)

Se Talor Miri Un Fior (Anna Bonitatibus)

Fonti Amiche (Karina Gauvin)

Tiranni Miei Pensieri (Anne Hellenberg)

Aure, Portate (Karina Gauvin)

Se Il Cor Ti Perde (Karina Gauvin & Anne Hellenberg)

Se L'Interno Pur Vedono (Romina Basso)