David Daniels, outstanding as Radamisto

Radamisto by Georg Friedrich Händel was presented by the English Concert, leaded by Harry Bicket, direction and Cembalo at Théâtre des Champs Èlysèes presented an outstanding star cast in their production

. Headed by the famous countertenor David Daniels.

Daniels presented a wonderful sound, tune, coloratura and brillians in his voice

. Closely followed up by the likely famous bassbaryton Luca Pisaroni who was doing an extraordinary job as King Tiridate, as he not only sings absolutely wonderful, also can play his role, and in this concert version, the audience was sometimes completely forgetting that it was a concert version as Pisaroni played his role with an admiring mimic with seductive, hungry eyes, who could get anyone to feel insecure in his company. I’d like to see him as Don Giovanni, it must be extraordinary. The other highlight with charisma and mimic was Elizabeth Watts, soprano as Tigrane, what a beautiful voice. A great pleasure.

Elizabeth Watts

The two other female roles who followed closely up was Patricia Bardon, mezzo soprano, as Zenobia,  the wife of Radamisto, and Brenda Rae, soprano,  as his sister Polissena, married to Tiridate, They both had wonderful arias, with very high quality, in fact for all five one of the really highlights this spring. As Ramaistos and Zenobias father Farasmane, we enjoyed the bass Robert Rice.

The music was in the best hands by the great English Concert, led by Harry Bicket, Internationally renowned as an opera and concert conductor of distinction, Harry Bicket is especially noted for his interpretation of baroque and classical repertoire. He became Artistic Director of The English Concert in 2007, one of the UK’s finest period orchestras. It functioned very well, good tempi, god sound, a very good solo cello,  and Harry Bicket brilliant also at the cembalo. 

Luca Pisaroni

Radamisto is an opera in three acts by George Friedrich Händel to an Italian libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, based on L’amor tirannico, o Zenobia by Domenico Lalli and Zenobia by Matteo Noris. It was Handel’s first opera for the Royal Academy of Music.

Harry Bicket, Artistic director of The English Concert

Radamisto is not one of the most played and welknown operas by Händel, that is strange, as it is full of wonderful tunes, arias and ensembles. It was first performed at the King´s Theatre, London on 27 April 1720 and was judged to be a success, resulting in 10 further performances.

The history: “The happily married Radamisto and Zenobia are besieged by Tiridate, ruler of a neighboring country. Radamisto through an invasion of Tiridate has launched and Zenobia through Tiridate’s attempt to capture her during the warfare. Despite his marriage to the faithful Polissena, (Radamistos sister) Tiridate has fallen passionately in love with Zenobia and his attempts to secure and seduce her are the forces that drive the story
. The “tyrannical love” which consumes Tiridate eventually gives way and he is reunited with Polissena, while Radamisto and Zenobia celebrate the “sweet refuse” they find in each other’s arms.”