FRANCESCO CAVALLI (1602-1676): Artemisia.

Description: Power in a monarchy, love and honor are the themes of this 1657 opera which can seem a little over-stuffed with its three pairs of lovers (two of them in disguise, too) but the various plot turns also show character development, giving Cavalli great freedom to range from almost severe recitative to exuberant and expressive aria. 3 CDs. Italian-English libretto. Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli, Roberta Mameli, Valentina Coladonato (sopranos), Maarten Engeltjes (countertenor), La Venexiana;  Claudio Cavina.