Since his exciting two-volume anthology of Johann Sebastian Bach’s single harpsichord concertos, Francesco Corti, conducter of his beloved Il Pomo d’Oro, has established himself as one of the most spirited and refined personalities on the new Baroque scene. This programme brings together two early cantatas by Georg Friedrich Handel, Apollo e Dafne and Armida abbandonata, which were created when the composer was honing his talents in Italy (1706-1709) and benefitting from almost daily contact with the great masters who lived there. Handel was able to develop an instantly recognisable style, and these two superb cantatas (elegantly performed here by soprano Kathryn Lewek (Armida, Dafne) and baritone John Chest (Apollo)) are a true testament to the musical genius of this young man from Halle.
Handel’s work from the early 18th century already has a very Mozartian vocality to it. This is all the more true in the version performed by Il Pomo d'Oro, where Corti’s musical instinct and sense of timing weaves an orchestra that’s as colourful as it is supple and dynamic. This is evidenced in the two incredible (and very different) arias: Come rosa in su la spina and Mie piante correte, the two climaxes of the album. These cantatas are complemented by orchestral compositions from the rarely-recorded Almira – another fantastic piece. This is one of the first significant additions to the discography of Handel's cantatas since the historic undertakings of Jennifer Smith (Archiv Produktion) or Maria Cristina Kiehr (Musidisc). © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz