Arne: Artaxerxes
Artaxerxesis a strange work. It was composed by EnglishmanThomas Arne, who was a generation  younger than his great operatic rival, Handel. Arne is best known for the tune  "Rule Britannia," from the "masque"Alfred. He composedArtaxerxesfrom an Italian libretto that Arne himself had translated into  English. It's chock full of shortish arias in stilted English, but there are  tunes galore; Arne had an ear for the punchy musical statement, and this  performance is a delight. Patricia Spence in the pants role of Arbaces brings a  warm, vibrant tone to her music; as her (his) beloved, Mandane, soprano  Catherine Bott almost walks away with the show. Her final aria, "The Soldier  Tir'd"--with its insanely complicated vocal line, octave leaps, and  breath-defying runs--is a knockout. Ian Partridge and Christopher Robson are  also excellent, and Roy Goodman leads with great energy. This is a rarity--and  probably will remain one--but it has a lot to offer.--Robert Levine