<<  -- 4 --  Maria Nockin    PRAISEWORTHY STYLE

Alfred Walker was a menacing Achilla, while Mark Crayton and James Scott Sikon were commendable as Nireno and Curio. Although Timothy Todd Simmons's chorus did not have a great deal to do, they performed their music in praiseworthy style.

The sound was baroque, even though most of the instruments were modern. Conductor Kenneth Montgomery's continuo group, consisting of harpsichord, baroque cello and theorbo, were sufficient to give an eighteenth century sound to the whole piece when combined with the expert playing of the members of the San Diego Symphony.

The southwestern corner of the United States is becoming more artistically mature and is beginning to embrace a much wider variety of music. Handel is now another composer whose works are appreciated by opera lovers from this part of the country.