 | David Daniels - Ombra mai fu - Xerxes - Handel David Daniels, American countertenor, sings "Ombra mai fu" from Xerxes by Handel. Julius Rudel conducting. Richard Tucker Foundation Gala, Avery Fisher Hall, New York, 1997. |
 | Handel - Serse "Ombra mai fu" - Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson "Ombra mai fu" from Serse/Xerxes, HWV40 by George Frideric Handel Libretto: ?; After Silvio Stampiglia, 1694, from Niccolo Minato, 1654 Composed: 26 December 1737 - 14 February 1738 http://www.haendel.it/composizioni/libretti/pdf/serse.pdf http://www.librettidopera.it/serse/serse.html Score (without the recitative): http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/e/e3/Han-omb.pdf Premiere: 15 April 1738: London, King's Theatre, Haymarket (5 performances to 2 May) Premiere Cast: (Conductor: - ) Serse (soprano castrato): Gaetano Majorano (Caffarelli) Arsamene (alto): Maria Antonia Marchesini (La Lucchesina) Amastre (contralto): Antonia Maria Merighi Romilda (soprano): Elisabeth Duparc (La Francesina) Atalanta (soprano): Margherita Chimenti (La Droghierina) Ariodate (bass): Antonio Montagnana Elviro (bass): Antonio Lottini In this recording: Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment Conductor: Harry Bicket Label: AVIE Records Recorded: 24, 26 August 2003, Blackheath Concert Halls, London (Theodora and Serse) A review on this recording: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/July04/Handel_Lieberson.htm From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Serse (Xerxes, HWV40) is an opera seria by George Frideric Handel. The libretto is adapted by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia for an earlier opera of the same name by Giovanni Bononcini. Stampiglia's libretto was itself based on one by Nicolò Minato that was set by Francesco Cavalli in 1654. Serse is considered Handel's most Mozartian opera, and one of his finest. Passion is mixed with farce and satire; the folly of human nature is exposed but never ridiculed. The opera is set in Persia in 480 BC and is very loosely based upon Xerxes I of Persia, though there is little in either the libretto or music that is relevant to that setting. Xerxes is a pants role; that is, it is a male role played by a mezzo-soprano.The opening aria, "Ombra mai fu", sung by Xerxes to a tree (Platanus orientalis), is set to one of Handel's best-known melodies, and is often played in an orchestral arrangement, known as Handel's "largo" (despite being marked "larghetto" in the score). The opera was a commercial failure, lasting only five performances in London after its premiere. In the 19th century, however, the aria was rediscovered and became one of Handel's best-known pieces. It has often been arranged for other instruments, including solo organ, solo piano, violin and piano, and groups of strings, often with the full title "Largo from Xerxes." Handel adapted the aria from the setting by Bononcini who, in turn, adapted it from the setting by Francesco Cavalli. All three composers had produced settings of the same opera libretto by Niccolò Minato. Original text: Ombra mai fu di vegetabile, cara ed amabile, soave più. Translation: Never was there made a shade of a plant dear and loving, or more gentle. |
 | Handel - Xerxes - Ombra mai fu - Andreas Scholl Sung in the same key as the score. Cantado en el mismo tono que la partitura. German countertenor/Contratenor alemán (n. 1967) Recitativo: Frondi tenere e belle Del mio Platano amato, Per voi risplenda il Fato Tuoni, Lampi, e Procelle Non vi oltraggino mai la cara pace, Ne giunga a profanarvi Austro rapace. Ombra mai fu Di Vegetabile, Care ed amabile Soave piu. Recitativo: Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, Let Fate smile upon you. May thunder, lightning, and storms never bother your dear peace, Nor may you be profaned by blowing winds. Never was made the shade of a plant, dear and loving, or more gentle. |
 | Enrico Caruso - Ombra mai fu (Handel's Largo) [1920] Ombra mai fu (Description to follow) --BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION-- (from Wikipedia) Enrico Caruso (born Errico Caruso; February 25, 1873 -- August 2, 1921) was an Italian opera singer and one of the most famous tenors in history. Caruso was also the most popular singer in any genre in the first two decades of the 20th Century and one of the most important pioneers of recorded music. Caruso's popular recordings and his extraordinary voice, known for its mature power, beauty and unequalled richness of tone, made him perhaps the best-known operatic star of his era. Such was his influence on singing style, virtually all subsequent Italianate tenors (and many non-Italian tenors) have been his heirs to a greater or lesser extent. He remains famous, though he predated the publicity that would aid later stars of opera. During his career, Enrico Caruso made over 260 recordings and made millions of dollars from the sale of his 78 rpm records. While Caruso sang at many of the world's great opera houses including La Scala in Milan and Covent Garden in London, he is best known as the leading tenor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for 17 years. Maestro Arturo Toscanini, who conducted some of the operas that Caruso sang in at the Met, considered him one of the greatest artists with whom he ever worked. Caruso's technique and style combined in a unique way the finest aspects of elegant, technically-polished 19th Century tenor singing with the emotionally-charged delivery and exciting, thrusting timbre demanded by the Verismo composers of the early 20th Century. |
 | Janet Baker - Dido & Aeneas - When I am laid in earth Dame Janet Baker sings one of the most beautiful arias of all opera, from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Glyndebourne, 1966. Conductor: Charles Mackerras. |
 | Handel - Xerxes - Ombra mai fu - Bryn Terfel Welsh baritone/barítono galés (n. 1965) Sung in the same key as the score. Cantada en el mismo tono que en la partitura. Recitativo: Frondi tenere e belle Del mio Platano amato, Per voi risplenda il Fato Tuoni, Lampi, e Procelle Non vi oltraggino mai la cara pace, Ne giunga a profanarvi Austro rapace. Ombra mai fu Di Vegetabile, Care ed amabile Soave piu. Recitativo: Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, Let Fate smile upon you. May thunder, lightning, and storms never bother your dear peace, Nor may you be profaned by blowing winds. Never was made the shade of a plant, dear and loving, or more gentle. |
 | Handel - Xerxes - Ombra mai fu - Kathleen Ferrier Sung in the exact same key as the score. Cantado en el mismo tono que la partitura. English contralto/contralto inglesa (1912-1953) Recitativo: Frondi tenere e belle Del mio Platano amato, Per voi risplenda il Fato Tuoni, Lampi, e Procelle Non vi oltraggino mai la cara pace, Ne giunga a profanarvi Austro rapace. Ombra mai fu Di Vegetabile, Care ed amabile Soave piu. Recitativo: Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, Let Fate smile upon you. May thunder, lightning, and storms never bother your dear peace, Nor may you be profaned by blowing winds. Never was made the shade of a plant, dear and loving, or more gentle. |
 | Renée Fleming Ombra mai fu Handel Ombra mai fu Renée Fleming |
 | Handel - Xerxes - Ombra mai fu - Renata Tebaldi (1922--2004) Italian lyric soprano/ soprano lírica italiana. Sung in the original key: F major Recitativo: Frondi tenere e belle Del mio Platano amato, Per voi risplenda il Fato Tuoni, Lampi, e Procelle Non vi oltraggino mai la cara pace, Ne giunga a profanarvi Austro rapace. Ombra mai fu Di Vegetabile, Care ed amabile Soave piu. Recitativo: Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, Let Fate smile upon you. May thunder, lightning, and storms never bother your dear peace, Nor may you be profaned by blowing winds. Never was made the shade of a plant, dear and loving, or more gentle. Cantada en el tono original: Fa mayor |
 | Handel - Xerxes - Ombra mai fu - Fritz Wunderlich German tenor/tenor alemán (1930-1966) Cantada en el mismo tono que la partitura pero en clave de tenor. Sung in the same key as the score, but in the tenor key. Recitativo: Frondi tenere e belle Del mio Platano amato, Per voi risplenda il Fato Tuoni, Lampi, e Procelle Non vi oltraggino mai la cara pace, Ne giunga a profanarvi Austro rapace. Ombra mai fu Di Vegetabile, Care ed amabile Soave piu. Recitativo: Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, Let Fate smile upon you. May thunder, lightning, and storms never bother your dear peace, Nor may you be profaned by blowing winds. Never was made the shade of a plant, dear and loving, or more gentle. |
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