Europa Galante & Fabio Biondi - G.F. Handel: Imeneo (2016)

Handel's Imeneo, an opera almost contemporaneous with Messiah, has received few performances ever since Messiah librettist Charles Jennens slammed it as "the worst of all Handel's compositions" while still allowing that it contained some good tunes. The work exists in two versions; Handel attempted to rescue the opera that bombed in its London premiere by cutting arias and inserting new material, some of it borrowed from other works. It is this second version, premiered in Dublin, that is recorded here. Conductor Fabio Biondi extols it in his notes, but the earlier version also has its virtues, including a more coherent plotline involving the Greek maiden Rosmene, who has to pick either her true love Tirinto or her rescuer Imeneo (Hymen, the god of love on whose story the libretto is based). The part of Tirinto was written for Giovanni Battista Andreoni, a castrato who sang in the unusual low mezzo-soprano or contralto range. This role gets Handel's most characteristic lush mid-range melodies, and it's well sung here by veteran Swedish mezzo Ann Hallenberg. Sample one of her arias, such as "Chi scherze colle rose" (CD 2, track 10), for the cream of the crop. The other attraction is the orchestral work of Europa Galante under violinist and leader Biondi, still punchy with a big, bottom-heavy continuo, and taking liberties with the score now and then, but not as hell-for-leather as some of Biondi's Italian opera interpretations. Handel worked on this opera for about two years, as compared with 24 days for Messiah, and it never quite hits a consistent tone. But this vigorous recording can be recommended for Handel lovers. -- James Manheim