Credits:

Handel (1685-1759)

Description:

Conductor Rafael Kubelík loved Handel's works and often performed them with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, of which he was chief conductor. This 1962 production of the opera "Serse (Xerxes)" uses the German text translated by Rudolf Stöcklich and references the autograph score preserved in the British Museum. The title role was originally sung by a soprano or mezzo-soprano. The title role was sung by Fritz Wunderlich, who was regarded at the time as having "one of the most beautiful voices in a century," and he did not disappoint. Kubelik plays the entire piece at a brisk tempo with a moderate vibrato on the instruments, which is a departure from the "romantic and melodic baroque music" that was the mainstream at the time. Naxos Japan