La Nuova Musica & David Bates - Handel's Unsung Heroes (2021)

After their acclaimed recording of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, La Nuova Musica and David Bates expand their PENTATONE discography with Handel’s Unsung Heroes, in which the instrumentalists of Handel’s operas are put centre stage. Traditionally restricted to an “invisible” existence in the orchestra pit, La Nuova Musica’s obbligato instrumentalists – violinist Thomas Gould, oboist Leo Duarte and bassoonist Joe Qiu – are now in the limelight. They will stand as equal partners alongside a world-class line up of soloists – soprano Lucy Crowe, mezzo-soprano Christine Rice and countertenor Iestyn Davies – showing how Handel wrote music as virtuosic and lyrical for his unsung heroes as for their singing counterparts. The album includes arias from Handel masterpieces such as Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare, Agrippina and Ariodante.

La Nuova Musica and its artistic director David Bates are among the most exciting Baroque ensembles of today. Their PENTATONE debut with Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice was both BBC Music Magazine Choice and Gramophone Editor’s Choice in December 2019. Iestyn Davies returns to PENTATONE after having sung the title role in that same release, whereas Lucy Crowe and Christine Rice make their PENTATONE debut.

Tracklist
1. La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Teseo, HWV 9: Ouverture (04:44)
2. La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Rinaldo, HWV 7a (Excerpts): Marcia (00:51)
3. La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Rinaldo, HWV 7a (Excerpts): Battaglia (01:32)
4. Iestyn Davies, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Rinaldo, HWV 7a (Excerpts): Or la tromba (03:30)
5. Christine Rice, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Alcina, HWV 34: Sta nell' Ircana pietrosa tana (06:00)
6. Iestyn Davies, Alexander Chance, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Giulo Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (Excerpts), Act II Sinfonia (00:32)
7. Iestyn Davies, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Giulo Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (Excerpts): Cieli, e qual delle sfere (00:18)
8. La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Giulo Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (Excerpts), Act III Sinfonia (00:51)
9. Iestyn Davies, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Giulo Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (Excerpts): Recitativo. Giulio, che miri? (00:18)
10. Lucy Crowe, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Giulo Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (Excerpts): V'adoro, pupille (04:54)
11. Iestyn Davies, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Giulo Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (Excerpts): Se in fiorito ameno prato (08:08)
12. Christine Rice, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Ariodante, HWV 33: Scherza infida (11:28)
13. Lucy Crowe, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, HWV 72: Qui l'augel da pianta in pianta (10:28)
14. Iestyn Davies, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Rinaldo, HWV 7a (Excerpts): Venti, turbini (03:49)
15. La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Rodrigo, HWV 5: Passacaille (04:27)
16. Iestyn Davies, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Amidigi di Gaula, HWV 11: Pena tiranna (05:53)
17. Lucy Crowe, La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Agrippina, HWV 6: Se giunge un dispetto (03:23)