Since her early success in Glyndebourne’s now famous production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Danielle de Niese has become most closely associated with the music of the Baroque. The New York Times commented: “A voice seductive enough to woo gods as well as mortals”.

With her third solo album, Danielle de Niese embodies the 'Beauty of the Baroque', with an album of arias from the English, German and Italian traditions, accompanied by the leading European Baroque orchestra, The English Concert, under Harry Bicket. 

Many popular arias feature, including Handel’s, ‘Ombra mai fu’, and highlights from J S Bach’s Cantatas are contrasted with much loved solo songs by Purcell and Dowland.

Decca’s star countertenor Andreas Scholl joins Danielle de Niese for duets including the ravishing duet “Pur ti miro” from Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea.

Track Listing:
John Dowland
[1] Come again, sweet love doth now invite
[2] What if I never speed?

George Frideric Handel
[3] Aria "Ombra mai fu" (Serse)
from Serse, Act I
Libretto: anon., after Niccolò Minato & Silvio Stampiglia
[4] Air "Let the bright Seraphim" (Israelitish Woman)
from Samson, Act III
Libretto: Newburgh Hamilton

Henry Purcell
[5] "Thy hand, Belinda – When I am laid in earth"(Dido)
(Dido's Lament)
from Dido and Aeneas, Act III
Libretto: Nahum Tate

George Frideric Handel
[6] Air "Heart, the seat of soft delight" (Galatea)
from Acis and Galatea
Libretto: John Gay and others

Claudio Monteverdi
[7] Duet "Pur ti miro"(Poppea, Nerone)*
from L'incoronazione di Poppea, Act III
Libretto: Giovanni Francesco Busenello
[8] Quel sguardo sdegnosetto
from Scherzi musicali

George Frideric Handel
[9] Duet "Io t'abbraccio" (Rodelinda, Bertarido)
from Rodelinda, Act II
Libretto: Nicola Francesco Haym
[10] "Guardian angels" (Beauty)
from The Triumph of Time and Truth, Act III
Libretto: Thomas Morell

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
[11] Duet "Stabat Mater dolorosa"
from Stabat Mater
Libretto: attrib. to Jacopone da Todi

Johann Sebastian Bach
[12] Aria "Sich üben im lieben"
from the Cantata Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten, BWV 202
[13] Aria "Schafe können sicher weiden"
from the Cantata Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208