The latest disc by soprano Ruby Hughes - joined by conductor Laurence Cummings - explores music written for the Italian soprano Giulia Frasi, Handel’s last prima donna. Alongside arias written by Handel for Frasi - including from his late oratorios Susanna, Solomon, Theodora, and Jephtha – are those by some of his contemporaries, including Ciampi, Hayes and Arne. 

For the latest Gramophone podcast, Editor in Chief James Jolly met with Ruby Hughes and Laurence Cummings - appropriately enough at St George’s, Hanover Square, where Handel worshipped - to talk about Frasi, and what we know about her life and voice. Excerpts are taken from ‘Handel's Last Prima Donna: Giulia Frasi in London’, which is released by Chandos today. 

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