Julia Lezhneva, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini - Handel (2015) CD-Rip

The athletic Italian- (and Latin-) language arias of the young Handel, almost unknown to general audiences a few decades ago, have become almost a rite of passage for young sopranos, so it's no surprise to see the highly praised soprano Julia Lezhneva come along with a collection of them for her second solo album. It's an attractive set showing that Lezhneva knows how to play to her strengths. There are just enough of the big showpieces to prove that she can acquit herself fine in them (and indeed she has done the likes of Vivaldi very well in the past), but the majority of the program is devoted to displaying her rather uncanny silvery sound. Prepare for held high notes that seem to take on an almost mechanical quality as they're extended with perfectly consistent tone beyond what seems physically possible. Lezhneva does well to include the limpid Salve Regina, HWV 241, as well as several numbers from the little allegorical oratorio Il trionfo del tempo e del disanganno, HWV 46a, which has several reflective numbers including the familiar "Lascia la spina" (track three), an irresistible tune recycled by Handel later on. Sample that or the final numbers from the same oratorio (tracks 14-15), which are gorgeous. The venerable Il Giardino Armonico matches Lezhneva step for step, and there are several numbers in which instrumental soloists engage in difficult duets with her. An above-average Handel recital that serves further notice of a major new talent.