Handel's Arminio was first performed in 1737, was abandoned, and was revived only in 1935, in a German-language performance in Leipzig (the original is Italian). That revival is easy to understand: Arminius, or Herrmann, was a tribal chieftain who stalled the Roman advance into Germany with a brilliant forest ambush and arguably was the reason for the survival of Teutonic rule in northern and central Germany. In 1935 he would have been a hero to the Nazis. The story here, based on a 30-year-old libretto, is both fanciful ...
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Handel's Arminio was first performed in 1737, was abandoned, and was revived only in 1935, in a German-language performance in Leipzig (the original is Italian). That revival is easy to understand: Arminius, or Herrmann, was a tribal chieftain who stalled the Roman advance into Germany with a brilliant forest ambush and arguably was the reason for the survival of Teutonic rule in northern and central Germany. In 1935 he would have been a hero to the Nazis. The story here, based on a 30-year-old libretto, is both fanciful and largely incoherent, assigning a major role to Arminius' wife, Tusnelda, of whom absolutely nothing is known. The weak libretto, along with the growing unfashionability of Italian opera seria in general, probably accounted for the interment of the opera. The lack of performances and recordings in the modern era stems from musical factors: Arminius rests on some very demanding countertenor duets, and until recently the prospect of assembling a pair (here you get a bonus: the...
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Fair. Ex-Library rental. Disc(s) are professionally cleaned and may contain only light scratches that do not effect functionality. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. May be missing booklet. Disc(s), case, and artwork may contain library/security stickers and ink writing. ARTWORK IS UNORIGINAL AND PRINTED BY LIBRARY. Case and artwork may show some wear. Case may not be an original jewel case. All disc(s) are authentic.