Handel / Orlando
Orlandohas one of those quintessentially goofy Baroque opera  plots, but it is partially sustained, at least, by some of Handel's most  beautiful arias. Mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon as Orlando sings well enough in a  technical sense, but is on the dull side dramatically. The rest of the cast is  more interesting, particularly Harry van der Kamp as the magician Zoroastro, and  the sweet-voiced Rosa Mannion as Dorinda. It's really William Christie's show,  of course, and his conducting of his talented ensemble is one of the best things  about this recording.--Sarah Bryan Miller