Erato Disques Serse

Amidst a wide range of recordings this one holds it's own very well, thanks mainly to the gorgeous playing of Les Arts Florissants. They are vigorous and engaging in the overture then play with unfeasible beauty in the famous Ombra mai fu. As for the singers, they are very fine, though not unequivocally so. Anne Sofie von Otter, like many other members of the cast, is slow to get out of the starting block. Giovanni Furlanetto's bass is fine in a small role, but it takes a while for the ear to tune in to him as his first aria seems centre-less, the voice unfocused at times. Lawrence Zazzo is a rather chilly presence, though, with a somewhat pallid quality. The highlight of his interpretation is Arsamene's tragic Act 3 aria which is arrestingly beautiful, sung with passion and intensity. The competition for this opera is relatively strong, and many would feel that McGegan pips Christie to the post, but if you are fond of Les Arts Florissants then you will find a great deal to enjoy here. As with the rest of this series there is no booklet but the libretto (with English translation) and an interesting accompanying essay are given on an accessible CD-ROM. Serse