The aria is not convincing at all when done by a falsetto voice. It doesn't have the bite or the fire and brimstone of a good bass. A dramatic soprano with a good chest tones might be able to pass it off. It fact it sounds here like a menacing Nellie with lace gloves. It actually makes me laugh.
@beckpatr1 Actually, no. This was never given to a bass. This was originally written for alto and Handel arranged it for soprano at some point. There is no evidence that Handel ever gave this piece to a bass.
Chance also sang this aria on Trevor Pinnock's recording of Messiah in 1988 and he was fantastic there. Anne Sofie von Otter features in both recordings also.
Strange... The same video was on youtube (I think it's been deleted), and with that video, everybody said he was "wonderful" and that he sang very well and stuff like that, but now everbody says it's rubbish... Strange...
I agree, this is very far from being Chance's best performance (he does seem to have problems singing live sometimes) but he sings a brilliant 'If God be for us' later in the same recording. And he is fantastic in dozens of other recordings with a much wider repertoire than Scholl, or even Daniels.
Para oír a un exponente de los antiguos "castrati", adolescentes adiestrados como contratenores, aunque por cierto no se detecta falsete en él. John es sencillamente maravilloso!
Only personal opinion, but I think this is horrible. Maybe he should be admired for his achievement, as a man singing in a falsetto voice a fairly difficult aria. But from a purely musical standpoint, it's amateurish. His vibrato is un-baroque and overall execution is technically mediocre. Listening to him, I imagined an old wobbly alto that is undertrained and overnurished. No haters, please, it's just a personal opinion. Take or leave.
I'm not going to disagree, this is not Chance's finest hour, but to call him amateurish is pretty inexcusable! Please listen to him singing on almost any other recording he's made to balance out this extreme view.
theCommenteer, that is a ridiculous statement. He is not even the best counter-tenor to sing this, let alone some "ladies". I am not a big fan of Michael Chance at his best, and this is NOT one of his better performances.
The original version of this Aria, which is entirely in 3/8 time, is for the Bass which sings the preceding Recitativo Accompagnato. This version is Handel's second version which was originally written for a Castrato-Alto for the later London performances. Only later was it in this form given to the Bass again after being transposed up and down the octave for numerous singers: Italian Prima Donas, Mrs. Cibber, et alii.
P.S. I have a friend whose is a Counter-Tenor and a U.S. Marine.
i've heard that this isn't the first tune to which handel set these lyrics. in 1742, it was recitative with figured bass accompaniment. in the second version he turned it into an aria. (bass) The version we know today, which he wrote in 1750, was made for a virtuoso mezzo castrato. it was given back to bass in mozart's 1789 performance in Vienna. (by the 19th century, castrati were out of style, so the aria remained for bass from that point onward). My sources are from the videos by twalker742.
The aria is not convincing at all when done by a falsetto voice. It doesn't have the bite or the fire and brimstone of a good bass. A dramatic soprano with a good chest tones might be able to pass it off. It fact it sounds here like a menacing Nellie with lace gloves. It actually makes me laugh.
zamyrabyrd 1 month ago
For me as well but he has better versions of this song :) This is certainly not Michael at his best! I think he would agree.
Buddhaxe 3 months ago
This is Michael Chance at his best! This is also one of the best recordings of The Messiah out there. I recommended watching the whole thing.
albedomusic 4 months ago
DIVAAAAAAHHH!!!
picklebear 6 months ago
Isn't it orignally written for bass voice?
beckpatr1 8 months ago
@beckpatr1 Yes, it is! Unfortunately, the most convertible solos are the ones found in Handel's Messiah.
Nonie46 7 months ago
@beckpatr1 YEAH IT IS
lilsingah07 5 months ago
@beckpatr1 Actually, no. This was never given to a bass. This was originally written for alto and Handel arranged it for soprano at some point. There is no evidence that Handel ever gave this piece to a bass.
flentrop2009 4 months ago
@flentrop2009 The words were originally set for bass solo, but not to the same music.
olialto7 4 months ago
@olialto7 Interesting. Can you send me a message and tell me more?
flentrop2009 4 months ago
there's a great rendition of this by Matt Alber also on here who sings it as a counter tenor or alto.
leondberg 2 years ago 6
No, no, no
bernard1422 2 years ago
He is for me one of the biggest couter-tenor in this old world!!! Impressive and classic!
mauricedelacroix 2 years ago 9
I respect Navil Mariner but this aria sing for He is like fire... nothing there fire where are His power and authority...
Rigoletto69 2 years ago
Chance also sang this aria on Trevor Pinnock's recording of Messiah in 1988 and he was fantastic there. Anne Sofie von Otter features in both recordings also.
olialto7 3 years ago 2
Strange... The same video was on youtube (I think it's been deleted), and with that video, everybody said he was "wonderful" and that he sang very well and stuff like that, but now everbody says it's rubbish... Strange...
tommieboy1657 3 years ago
I agree, this is very far from being Chance's best performance (he does seem to have problems singing live sometimes) but he sings a brilliant 'If God be for us' later in the same recording. And he is fantastic in dozens of other recordings with a much wider repertoire than Scholl, or even Daniels.
olialto7 3 years ago
Para oír a un exponente de los antiguos "castrati", adolescentes adiestrados como contratenores, aunque por cierto no se detecta falsete en él. John es sencillamente maravilloso!
Werkampf 3 years ago
i'd love to hear people like cencic or mehta sing that... or daniels ! Did they ever sing it ?
cuicuimusic 3 years ago
Only personal opinion, but I think this is horrible. Maybe he should be admired for his achievement, as a man singing in a falsetto voice a fairly difficult aria. But from a purely musical standpoint, it's amateurish. His vibrato is un-baroque and overall execution is technically mediocre. Listening to him, I imagined an old wobbly alto that is undertrained and overnurished. No haters, please, it's just a personal opinion. Take or leave.
sasha42196 3 years ago
leave :)
cuicuimusic 3 years ago
I'm not going to disagree, this is not Chance's finest hour, but to call him amateurish is pretty inexcusable! Please listen to him singing on almost any other recording he's made to balance out this extreme view.
olialto7 3 years ago
theCommenteer, that is a ridiculous statement. He is not even the best counter-tenor to sing this, let alone some "ladies". I am not a big fan of Michael Chance at his best, and this is NOT one of his better performances.
sasha42196 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
are you fucking kidding me.
this isnt a tenor song, and its definatly not a counter-tenor solo.
Why doesn't this faggot grows a pair and sing this song where it is meant to be sung.
BARITONE!!!!
jarhead022 3 years ago
The original version of this Aria, which is entirely in 3/8 time, is for the Bass which sings the preceding Recitativo Accompagnato. This version is Handel's second version which was originally written for a Castrato-Alto for the later London performances. Only later was it in this form given to the Bass again after being transposed up and down the octave for numerous singers: Italian Prima Donas, Mrs. Cibber, et alii.
P.S. I have a friend whose is a Counter-Tenor and a U.S. Marine.
LUSHiiss 3 years ago 2
i've heard that this isn't the first tune to which handel set these lyrics. in 1742, it was recitative with figured bass accompaniment. in the second version he turned it into an aria. (bass) The version we know today, which he wrote in 1750, was made for a virtuoso mezzo castrato. it was given back to bass in mozart's 1789 performance in Vienna. (by the 19th century, castrati were out of style, so the aria remained for bass from that point onward). My sources are from the videos by twalker742.
ufayad 2 years ago
i will be on my face on the day He appears!
kstewintheart4u 3 years ago
Comment removed
tommieboy1657 3 years ago
Pure
hogeyama 3 years ago
Simply the best...
jaguinou 3 years ago
What the F*CK:/ U never heard Scholl? He sounds so f*cked up compared to Scholl. Don't like this at all..
gehaktmolen 3 years ago
Thank you for the tip...
Best greetings.
A "little" beginner in Aria from Geneva, Switzerland
jaguinou 3 years ago
i have his studio performance of this it sounds wondeful! best sounding aria out of all of that whole Pinnock recording of the Messiah
HopePoisoned 4 years ago
He sings it better than the ladies!
theCommenteer 4 years ago 6
he really does!!
nim6 3 years ago