Alcina

The title character of Handel's 1735 opera is a sorceress who transforms her cast-off lovers into rocks, trees, and animals on her enchanted island. The plot kicks in with the new arrival of travelers, led by a woman searching for her lost fiancé, whom Alcina has bewitched. To further complicate matters, the woman, disguised as a man, catches Alcina's eye as a prospective new conquest. Much confusion ensues before the witch's power is destroyed, the transformed humans are restored to normal, and true love triumphs. Alcina may be nonsensical fantasy, but the score is delightful (despite its length), and in this 2011 staging by Adrian Noble at the Wiener Staatsoper, the music's color and beauty are brilliantly conveyed by the original instrument band Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble under the vigorous leadership of Marc Minkowski. The singing is of high order as well, with Anja Harteros cutting an imposing figure in the title role. The only drawback is the decision to stage the piece as an “opera within an opera,” set at an 18th-century English estate, a conceit that allows the production to remain small-scaled (an obvious financial benefit) but misses the grand spectacle the work invites. Still, the overall excellence of the performance makes this a standout. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.0 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.0 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)