Moments of magic in Partenope - Music - Arts - Evening Standard
       

Moments of magic in Partenope

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The Proms brought a Royal Danish Theatre production of Handel’s opera Partenope in concert form, with the superb period-instrument band Concerto Copenhagen on stage. Directing from the harpsichord, Lars Ulrik Mortensen shaped and animated every phrase with an eye-catching repertoire of expressive gestures.

A fine cast featured Inger Dam-Jensen in the title role and Christophe Dumaux as one of her trio of admirers, Armindo. Spellbinding as their final, radiant duet is, it’s Arsace, divided in his loyalties and smitten with anguish, who gets the best tunes in the last act.

His plangent aria Ch’io parta! (Must I leave?) drew singing of such exquisite pathos from Andreas Scholl that the entire audience was held entranced. A few moments of absolute magic.

Royal Danish Opera/Mortensen: Partenope
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP

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