Other baroque operas I enjoy - and you can always skip the recitative if it goes on too long - are Handel's "Giulio Cesare/Julius Caesar" - I love the Janet Baker/ENO one in English; it has an endless stream of good arias and I reviewed this "Serse" very positively: https://musicwebinternational.com/2023/07/handel-serse-linn/
Then, of course, there is Monteverdi and I surveyed this, too:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Jan/Monteverdi-Poppea-survey.htm
You might give that a try. Finally, I love this Rameau anthology disc - whereas my MWI colleague who reviewed it was distinctly underwhelmed:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Aug/Rameau_light_88843082572.htm
Do sample Nadine Koutcher's "Tristes appręts" from
Castor et Pollux - the last track; it's YouTube:
I am curious about recommendations for a first recording of a baroque opera. I love the more popular operas of Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, etc. and am interested in getting to know some earlier works. I have tried to listen to one or two in the past but was quickly bored by the vast recitatives and seemingly endless de capo arias. I don't care whether or not the performance is period aware, but I do prefer big scale opera voices to like Wunderlich and Ewa Podles, who I know also sang in baroque operas. Any recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks
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