A soft spot for Baroque opera

Stephanie Blythe - Handel & Bach Arias / David Daniels · Ensemble Orchestral de Paris · John Nelso

It's been 10 years since Seattle opera last did a Baroque opera (Xerxes in 1997), but this season we will be treated to a production of Guilio Cesare, with the incredible Ewa Podles (last name is pronounced pode-lesh) in the title role. It seems with the Met's smash success of Rotelinda last year, Baroque opera is experiencing a bit of a renaissance (if I can mix my artistic periods). But still, for folks use to the romantic Italian repertoire, Baroque opera can be a stretch with its smaller orchestra and use of harspichord.

I have always loved Baroque music - I played a lot of Bach transcriptions when I studied classical guitar growing up. To dip your toe into Baroque vocal works, I highly recommend Stephanie Blythe's Handel and Bach Arias. This is one of my all-time favorite classical recordings. Stephanie Blythe in my opinion is the leading mezzo today. We are lucky to see a lot of her in Seattle: in the Ring, in Carmen, and recently she was a judge in the International Wagner Competition.

Bach, by the way, did not write any opera. Musically, his Passions are highly dramatic - but they weren't  designed to be staged (which is what distinguishes opera from cantata and oratorio). The Bach arias on the CD come from the St. John and St. Matthew Passions, and his Mass in B Minor.