ARTISTS
Andreas Scholl, counter tenor
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavio Dantone

TRACKLISTING
HANDEL: Bel contento ( Flavio )
HANDEL: Pompe vane di morte!... ( Rodelinda )
ALBINONI: Stelle ingrate ( Astarto )
ALBINONI: Selvagge amenità ( Engelberta )
LOTTI: Discordi pensier ( Teofane )
SCARLATTI: Del ciel sui giri ( Carlo re d'Allemagna )
LOTTI: Fosti caro ( Gli odi delusi dal Sangue )
HANDEL: Dall'ondoso periglio... Aure, deh, per pietà · Al lampo dell' armi ( Giulio Cesare )
HANDEL: Cara sposa ( Rinaldo )
PORPORA: Va' per le vene il sangue ( Il Trionfo di Camilla )

Senesino - The voice that inspired Handel's greatest operas!

One of the truly outstanding voices of today, star countertenor Andreas Scholl celebrates one of the 18th Century's greatest vocal superstars - the remarkable male alto known as Senesino.

Senesino's place in history was secured by his extraordinary association with Handel, who after travelling to Dresden to hear him, brought him to London to join his Italian Opera Company - where he was greatly celebrated by the public, and much admired by the ladies. Inspired by this unique singer, Handel wrote for him a dazzling succession of operatic roles that showcased the beauty and power of his extraordinary vocal personality.

Scholl's exquisite voice, beloved of critics and audiences, pure, penetrating, virtuosic and deeply characterful, is a remarkable match for the voice of Senesino. The impact of Senesino's extraordinary talents on Handel, and therefore on the history of opera, was profound - with many great roles being written for him including the title role of Giulio Cesare. Scholl has also sung another complete Senesino role on stage, when he made his Glyndebourne Festival debut as Bertarido in Rodelinda .

In a series of virtuosic showpiece arias Scholl celebrates Senesino from the very start of his career to the very last aria he is known to have sung - and Handel is not the only

composer featured, as the album also includes premiere recordings of arias by other Baroque greats including Albinoni, Scarlatti, Lotti and Porpora.

Andreas Scholl is again joined by the Accademia Bizantina under the direction of Ottavio Dantone who together provided exquisitely sensitive accompaniment on their first collaboration - Arcadia.

'Enthusiastically recommended, and not just to paid-up Scholl fans.' (The Gramophone reviewing Arias for Senesino in November 2005)