2015-07-03, Bachtrack, by Mark Valencia
Philippe Jaroussky cuts a mighty fine dash as the debonair knight Ruggiero, his bright falsetto easily rising above a mid-range-dominant Freiburger Barockorchester that supports the singers with admirable sensitivity under Andrea Marcon’s carefully pointed conducting. The French countertenor’s yearning mezza voce delivery of “Verdi prati” is sublime, possibly the evening’s vocal highlight, although there is strong competition from Prohaska’s “Tornami a vagheggiar” and from Gregory’s physically and vocally energetic “È un folle, un vile affetto”. Add some bell-clear, sweetly defined contributions from Katarina Bradić and Krzysztof Baczyk as the gallant rescuers and this Alcina is a feast for the ear.
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