Tolomeo is another rarely performed Handel opera that proves precisely what a great dramatist he was. Despite some plot confusions – characters are disguised throughout - there are scenes of startling melodrama: when Tolomeo is forced to commit suicide or betray his wife, Seleuce, our emotions are torn in one direction; only later does it become clear that the poison he’s taken was swapped for a sleeping potion by Elisa, the sister of King Araspe (Tolomeo’s enemy), who is in love with Tolomeo (though she does not know his true identity). Seleuce is as pure and lovely as the woodsy, shipwrecked setting, and her music is pastoral and lyrical – one aria has her backed by intertwining recorders. Alan Curtis leads the period instrument band Il Complesso Barocco in a performance that brings out all the passion in this tale of lust, love and grief, with Anne Hallenberg fearless in the title role (it was written for the famous castrato, Senesino) and Karina Gauvin simply ravishing as Seleuce. Pietro Spagnoli, as the tyrant Araspe uses his dark voice in a nice, bullying fashion and Anna Bonitatibus’ Elisa is wonderfully wild and strong. This is a knockout performance of an opera that should be better known. -- Robert Levine
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