"Ariodante" by Alan Curtis (concert in April 2011)

I watched the concert version of Handel’s opera “Ariodante” conducted by Alan Curtis with Il Complesso Barocco, which was staged back in April 2011.

Even though I believe no one can surpass the sublime Marc Minkowski’s production for this opera, I thought this production was very good. Alan Curtis’ orchestration was lively a lot of times even though it still feels the undertone subtleness as the whole. The sound quality was much better also and definitely there was least amount of dullness in this production than his other productions I listened to.

Even though I also think no assemble of singers surpass the singers in the Marc Minkowski’s production, all the singers in this production were expressive and they sung very well especially Ann Hallenberg.

Mezzo-soprano, Ann Hallenberg’s Ariodante was wonderful and very exciting to listen to specially when she sung the upbeat arias.

Soprano, Roberta Mameli had silky beautiful rich expressive voice.

Mezzo-soprano, Varduhi Abrahanyan had the wonderful voice with the shade of darkness.

Soprano, Ana Auintans had beautiful voice but was little weak in expression.

Tenor, Nicholas Phan had very good firm lower to middle register but little shaky on upper register.

Baritone, Matthew Brook sung firm father/king.

The singers are the following.

Ariodante: Ann Hallenberg
Ginevra: Roberta Mameli
Polinesso: Varduhi Abrahanyan
Dalinda: Ana Quintans
Lurcanio: Nicholas Phan
Re di Scozia: Matthew Brook