Description:

On the rarest of occasions, an evening of opera reshapes history. This performance is one such moment, catapulting Beverly Sills to fame and restoring George Frideric Handel to the standard repertoire. Some choices may seem unusual by modern standards, beginning with the casting of Norman Treigle, a bass, as Caesar—a role originally written for a castrato. Yet Treigle makes the part his own, infusing it with a gravitas that few modern countertenors could achieve. Sills shines as Cleopatra, bringing both poignancy and playfulness to the role with effortless grace. She delivers the expected vocal fireworks but is most striking in the slower arias, such as "Se pietà di me non senti," which earns a thunderous ovation. Maureen Forrester captivates with her rich contralto, while Beverly Wolff brings both energy and vocal brilliance to the role of Sesto. Previous releases suffered from variable pitch, but this edition has been corrected for accuracy.

In Mono

OD 12191-2