Heroes and Heroines (arias from Solomon, Alcina, Ariodante & Hercules)

"Sarah Connolly has, in a very short time, become one of the UK's leading mezzos in this repertoire (as regulars at ENO will need no reminding). There is some thrilling singing here with a very different feel to the accompaniment from the OAE's."
Editor's Choice Gramophone November 2004

"Connolly seals her reputation as our best Handel mezzo in many years. The voice is richly coloured, delicately used but incisively dramatic. She brings Handel to open-hearted expressive life…she knows the style through and through, and makes the maximum effort within it."
Financial Times

Sarah Connolly began her career with The Sixteen, singing in the choir in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and has gone on to be described as 'our best Handel mezzo in years'. Sarah is now in demand in the US, across Europe and beyond. In this programme she demonstrates her versatility as both hero and heroine. By turn reflective, pleading or defiant, she shows off her richly colourful voice with an instinctive understanding of how to bring the beauty and expressiveness of these wonderful arias to life.

Performing with Sarah on this new album is The Sixteen's acclaimed orchestra The Symphony of Harmony and Invention. In addition to the thrilling and heart-stoppingly beautiful arias on this recording, the orchestra has some 'solo' tracks of its own which include The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (from Solomon).