HANDEL VS PORPORA Philippe Jaroussky and the Venice Baroque Orchestra Celebrated French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and the Venice Baroque Orchestra are teaming up for a programme of baroque opera arias and instrumental interludes at this year's Le French May. Presented by artists with well-established names in the genre, an authoritative, authentic and highly appealing evening is guaranteed. Jaroussky comes equipped with a broad repertoire spanning the 17th and 18th centuries and a remarkable technical control that can service the notes with either machine-gun rapidity or the subtlest nuances. As The New York Times recently put it: "There are countertenors, and then there is Mr Jaroussky." Fans of his discography and generous YouTube appearances will be champing at the bit to hear his artistry. Behind every superb soloist, however, there usually stands an impressive band; in this case, the Venice Baroque Orchestra. The ensemble's fine reputation stems from a combination of the virtuosic abilities of its individual players and the scholarly research it has deployed in the rediscovery of old masterpieces. The dozen-plus members of the group naturally perform on period instruments, vividly recreating the sounds that captured peoples' ears three centuries ago. The title of the concert brings to life another historical aspect of the entertainment: Handel vs Porpora refers to two prolific composers of Italian opera of the day. The art form was big business, built on lavish investment, and never far from political intrigue at one level or another. It was in this atmosphere that George Handel and Nicola Porpora found themselves sparring for the upper hand in the popularity stakes in London in the 1730s. Writing for star singers who dominated the international circuit, the challenge was on to see who could write the finer music to attract the larger audience. Tomorrow's concert will be an opportunity for you to judge for yourself. Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, May 2, 8pm. HK$180-HK$380 Urbtix. Inquiries: 3752 9965
