The debut album of an extraordinary voice, Margriet Buchberger. Handel's strongest female characters united on one CD. Handel, sung with a naturalness, sensuality and luminosity that make other singers look pale by comparison.

Cleopatra, Adelaide, Alcina, Laodice, Medea, Atalanta, Melissa & Morgana: Audacious fighters, indomitable queens, and evil witches: On their debut CD, soprano Margriet Buchberger and the musicians of Il Giratempo put Handel’s strongest and most mesmerizing women centre stage - where they rightfully belong. The „wild“ women in Georg Friedrich Handel’s operas are truly queens of their own destiny.

They rule over empires, fight in bloody battles, are courageous hunters and passionate lovers. Their adventures are gems in a sea of female characters bound to tradition and cliché.“Good girls” may go to heaven, but in baroque opera they do so either as victims or trophies.

At best they come into their own when they sacrifice themselves virtuously to the mercy of fate and/or the men surrounding them. We have searched for strong, self-determined women – and found fascinating, modern characters, brought to life through beautiful music.

• 1. Moriro, Ma Vendicata (Medea) - Teseo Hwv 9, Act 5, Scene 1
• 2. Ombre Pallide (Alcina) - Alcina Hwv 34, Act 2, Scene 13
• 3. Scherza In Mar La Navicella (Adelaide) - Lotario Hwv 26
• 4. Or Mi Perdo Di Speranza (Laodice) - Siroe, Re Di Persia Hwv
• 5. Al Varco, Oh Pastori (Atalanta) - Atalanta Hwv 35, Act 1
• 6. Ah, Spietato! (Melissa) - Amadigi Di Gaula Hwv 11, Act 1
• 7. Da Tempeste Il Legno Infrato (Cleopatra) - Giulio Cesare
• 8. Credete Al Mio Dolore (Morgana) - Alcina Hwv 34, Act 3
• 9. Ah, Mio Cor (Alcina) - Alcina Hwv 34, Act 2, Scene 1