Senesino - Handel's castrato
Hannah French traces the life of the Italian castrato Francesco Bernardi (otherwise known as Senesino), for whom Handel wrote many operatic roles during his time working in London.
Hannah French traces the life of the Italian castrato Francesco Bernardi (otherwise known as Senesino), for whom Handel wrote many operatic roles during his time working in London.
Senesino was the superstar singer of his era. He was in demand all over Europe from a young age, but it was his association with Handel that catapulted him to stardom in England. Over a period of around ten years, Handel wrote thirteen roles for him, including the leading roles in his operas Giulio Cesare and Orlando.
Producer: Ben Collingwood.
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Music Played
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George Frideric Handel
Giulio Cesare (Al Lampo dell'armi)
Singer: Andreas Scholl. Orchestra: Accademia Bizantina. Conductor: Ottavio Dantone. -
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Agostino Agazzari
Super flumina Babylonis
Choir: Salzburger Bachchor. Ensemble: Innsbruck Brass Ensemble. Conductor: Howard Arman. -
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Antonio Lotti
Ascanio (Non può quest'alma in sen)
Singer: Randall Scotting. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Laurence Cummings. -
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George Frideric Handel
Radamisto (Ombra cara)
Singer: Max Emanuel Cenčić. Orchestra: I Barocchisti. Conductor: Diego Fasolis. -
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George Frideric Handel
Orlando (Act 1)
Singer: Konstantin Wolff. Singer: Bejun Mehta. Orchestra: B’Rock Orchestra. Conductor: René Jacobs. -
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Attilio Ariosti
Vespasiano (Overture)
Orchestra: La Nuova Musica. Conductor: David Bates. -
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Nicola Porpora
Polifemo (Act III, Final Scene)
Singer: Julia Lezhneva. Singer: Franco Fagioli. Singer: Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian. Orchestra: Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal. Conductor: Stefan Plewniak.
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- Sunday 17:00BBC Radio 3
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