Andreas Scholl sings "Verdi prati" from Alcina

[nonnopirro52]

e, alla fine, cadenza mozartiana

[DinaDare]

It's important to note that Handel had a long colaboration with contralto castro Senesino, which accounts for the perfect marriage between Andreas' voice and Handel's music. Andreas even has a CD titled Andreas sings Senesino.

[TamaraWoldhuis]

love it ! Totally showed me up man ! Good job ! :)

[barytontaine]

etrange?? Je ne comprends pas le succès de cette voix contrefaite qui sonne comme une caricature de soprano.Of course amatorynumber i think like you!!!

[Hardstylomatic]

too much pressure on his larynge, thats why it sounds a bit strange (my impression..) but its well done.. he knows how to use his voice ^^

[Greenflames510]

I loved this song so much, Ive selected it to sing at my Jr. Recital.... great performance!

[amatorynumber]

if this is the most beautiful countertenor voice in the world I am the king of Persia. Sounds like a bloody cat... horrible As

[TheMart0043]

@amatorynumber clearly, you can do better

[HerrWarja]

Scholl is amazing. Händel wrote so much moving, great music!

[celtdownunder]

Andrea Scholl is just amazing!

[1939scarlet]

beautifully sang, but the fortepianist was of no help, it marred the performance

[siervadedios1]

I love to

ANDREAS SCHOLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MJimiD]

Eunuch. No J/K

[nncapisciocomputer]

@MJimiD vorrei conoscerti di persona

[NosHabebitHumus]

This is from a concert of Handel, Haydn, Mozart which ended, however, with two encores: "Verdi Prati" was the encore after Schubert's "Abendempfindung". The fortepianist is Markus Makrl who played the much more appropriate cembalo in the Handel part of the concert. You can find the amazing performance of Abendempfindung here on YouTube as well.

[NosHabebitHumus]

@NosHabebitHumus Sorrry! Mozart's Abendempfindung, of course...falling asleep!

[giorgioot]

il fortepiano è fuori luogo ......Scholl bravissimo

[cthesky9595]

Absolutely stunning!!! I'm not sure wether the text have been published before but I hope it is the right words. Händel: Verdi Prati (Alcina.): Verdi prati, e selve amene Perderete la beltà. Vaghi fior, correnti rivi, La vaghezza, la bellezza, Presto in voi si cangerà. E cangiato il vago oggetto, Allorror del primo aspetto Tutto in voi ritornerà.

[thomastmwc]

very peaceful

[MorganJhonnieCat]

I saw Alcina live :)

His rendition of Verdi Prati is fantastic :)

[firebreathone2]

I agree 100% with Daniel. His ornamentations (the harpsichordist's ) are very Mozartian. Not at all appropriate for this particular piece of music

[danielbillingsley]

I think this is exquisitely sung, but the fortepianist is just out of this realm with some idiotic realizations. Plunk plunk kerchunk through most of the piece, with a Mozartian/Haydnesque flourish at the end that made it sound more like Papageno than Handel made it almost unbearable. It makes me want to know what was on the rest of the recital. Had it been classical and romantic German lieder, I could be more forgiving.

[tenswmmsc]

I TOTALLY agree. The intro is perfectly described as "Plunk plunk kerchuck..." Scholl would be perfectly within his rights to go slap that jokester upside the head and then go sing like a champ.

[arvanitsa]

Spot on !

[justasondheimbaby]

@danielbillingsley totally agreed. Stunningly sung. The accompaniment didn't feel period at all.

[Hisrevenge]

I 100% agree. Sad.

[Heartlessiceboy]

Don't misunderstand me, he's good in certain repertoire like Bach sacred works and cantatas or early english music,but these is opera!these is the Ruggiero main aria in Alcina,Ruggiero is the hero!even these is not a bravura aria it needs certain actitude...if we can't have a dramatic countertenor is better to be sung by a mezzo a power mezzo like Marilyn Horne or Vasselina Kasarova who fill the aria's mood

[Beattietron]

I think that for many roles, yes, a dramatic style voice is better. For instance I love David Daniel's recording of "a dispetto d'un volto ingrato" from Tamerlano. But, I still think it is a valid choice to cast voices like Scholl's for heroic roles because I think he still gets the dramatic message across.

[Beattietron]

But, if we allow this flexibility, what else will we allow? Personally, I wouldn't pay to see a microphoned Miley Cyrus Guilio Cesare sung with American accented English :) (A terrible comparison with Scholl, I know, but you get what I'm saying). So I guess what I mean is that personally, I think Scholl singing Ruggiero is wonderful, but I respect your opinion, as it is a tricky dilemma.

[Heartlessiceboy]

Miley Cyrus that's cute

[palcika1]

It's perfect in mood.

This aria is an elegy.

And Ruggiero may be a main character, but not typically a hero.

And it's not always necessary to try to be very smart when listening to music. The audience should identify with and surrender to the thing as much as they can, if they want to enjoy it, and not act like a jury.

[doddsalfa]

You forget to mention that Andreas is one of the greatest singers alive today.And you are a countertenor, a light one.

[Heartlessiceboy]

Yes is fair Andreas Scholl is one of the greatest singers alive!!

I don't see point to argue about my "personal point of view" about if Andreas Scholl is good or not for this particular role anybody is entitled to his/her/their opinion...and yes im a light countertenor but I don't see why is that relevant ?

[Heartlessiceboy]

Andreas Scholl is an english countertenor"(i know he's german) cause he studied with english technique(like Alfred Deller) the english countertenor have small voices without vibrato and in many cases without harmonics,these voice is good to sing sacred and some sungs but dosn't work for opera,David Daniels or Max Emannuel Cencic r "dramatic"(new term) countertenors who studied bel canto technique like any other voice and can fill a theater and do have vibrato

[Beattietron]

While I admire many aspects of Daniels' technique, I can't help but feel his voice is a little more "affected" and the vibrato does not sound as natural as Scholl's.

IMHO, I think most people prefer a voice where you can actually understand what is being said, rather than one that fills a hall. Personally, I don't care whether it is "authentic" or not to sing italian-style opera with an anglo/german technique: I like Scholl because of his impeccable diction, taste and tone quality.

[Heartlessiceboy]

seriously if u don't like an opera singer cause u don't understand what he is saying cause the vibrato(c'mon!)...u probably hate opera,probably u hate Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland and almost every professional opera singer(cause vibrato is part of a technique) i guess u hate all the musical periods like the verismo or the bel canto and of course baroque(cause only old baroque school singers sing with plain boy choir like voice without)try with pop singers! cause opera singers do vibrato

[Operaticus]

I tend to agree with Heatlessiceboy. Scholl himself in an interview with Andrew Ford said; "Yes I recorded the arias before. In one aria when I listen to it now, I don't want to listen to it any more, because it's, after the opera experience my whole ideas about that particular piece changed a lot," and, "I sing songs differently after an opera experience. It's about communicating the drama in music, finding a sense for acting a song. It needs acting as well but not the kind of method acting."

[pslogge]

very stylish singing, elegant ornemantations,fine pronunciation.sheer pleasure, matching well the palazzi of the barocco era.

[xPianoAdventurex]

scholl as its best!^^

but what happend on 2:07, i think scholl had to cough and as a disguise for that he looked very angrily on his accompanist! that´s a very interesting reaction on his mistake...:-)

or what do you think?

[shazzer1976]

He's possibly warned his accompanist in advance of the performance to slow down about there and was just glancing quickly in his direction to remind him. He didn't look angry to me. I can't imagine Scholl would try to pass off any mistakes on his accompanists! Anyway, Mr Scholl does not make mistakes. Did you not know that? ;-)

[xPianoAdventurex]

--yes, i know :-)

he is really the best countertenor ever!

[silvr94]

yes. you're probably right. he also tuned round to him afterwards...

[palcika1]

It's more likely that he wanted to stop him beating the poor instrument to death.

[xgianpatrick]

I think you are absolutely right, palcika. They were in completely different tempi, different affects, and different planets throughout, and Scholl's was by far the more appealing. The keyboard realization was particularly unflattering, and not at all stylish. A pianist, I would guess? I always enjoy Scholl, though.

[rullstensas]

he made one cough around 1:22 as well.

has he a cold? If he does, he's a marvel of a man

[xgianpatrick]

Does it matter male/female? What matters to me is the spirit, and transcribing the gesture that Handel intended. At any rate, I still love the first version I heard of it: Teresa Berganza on a dusty old LP that I bought for a quarter.

[shazzer1976]

Now I know this is not about green spuds! How was I not to know Handel hdan't picked up some wird hiberno-italiano dialect on his travels throughout Europe... Album sleeves are a wonderful invention. Right up there with diaries and mobile phones.

[CurvedRevenge]

But at least parts for men, should be sung by men. That makes sense, doesn't it? And because there are just a few tenors who can reach the high notes of the castrato pieces, counter-tenors are the best voice for it. Listen to Alessandro Moreschi. Although he wasn't a very good singer, he has made the only recording of a castrato voice. See, how it isn't feminine at all.

[shazzer1976]

It's all the same to me whether these roles are played by counter-tenors or mezzos, as long as they are well played! I do love listening to this aria sung by Scholl though.

[CurvedRevenge]

I'm a counter-tenor and I plea that the pieces which are written for the castrato's, should be sung by men. No woman can create a tone that can be compared to this.

About the comment that he cant sing high notes: he can! His high tones are beautiful, and me as a counter-tenor can say how difficult the high tones are to keep beautiful.

[jetsetjordan]

In all seriousness, a counter-tenor voice will never compare to that of a of the castrati. The vocal engagement used by them was the same as an adult singer of the traditional vocal parts, and so is much closer to that of a mezzo. The dramatic affect of the counter-tenor in these rolls can be much finer, but to be honest to the style, the mezzo-soprano is probably closer to the castrati. I for one don't have a preference, and enjoy Scholl as much as any mezzo...but your's isn't a good argument.

[KimiLagunaCF]

I'm singing this song for Master Class and I think this is a beautiful rendition of this piece.

[pierrotparis]

verdi prati is an extract from serse.....

;

[escaelis]

It is from Alcina. Arleen Auger's version is superb as well!

It must have been a result of self-borrowing. Many Handelian Operas share arias.

[Gibran11]

One last comment... :-)

If what they say about his lack of projection is true I would simply make sure to book early and get a good seat a bit closer to the stage. I myself would trade off a bit of extra strength in the voice for all his other qualities.

My two cents :-)

[CountertenorJ]

I heard him sing Bertarido at the Met a couple years ago. His voice carried just fine. This whole projection myth about world-class countertenors just doesn't hold water.

[Gibran11]

Comment 3 of 3:

An amazing -unreal- breath control and 99.95% of the time he keeps a perfect pitch and intonation. And in my opinion too no one gets closer in richness. He's got such a rich texture. Oh and I haven't even mentioned his diction, which is really good as well, I can almost always understand what he is saying. As close to perfect as you can get.

[escaelis]

Andreas Scholl beats out Jaroussky and Daniels - for sure - especially in terms of breath control and tone pitch. Every voice has its merit , Scholl just possesses a little more merit than others.

[Gibran11]

Comment 2 of 3:

I honestly don't care if other countertenors have a "stronger" voice and can project better, regardless of this I have never ever heard such a near PERFECT voice. He sings with such clarity and precision! An amazing -unreal- breath control and 99.95% of the time he keeps a perfect pitch and intonation. And in my opinion too no one gets closer in richness... he's got such a rich texture...

[Gibran11]

Comment 1 of 3:

I have heard a couple of comments regarding Scholl's lack of projection.

My singing teacher went to see him and he was sitting at the very back of the theater. He said he could barely hear him. I went to see him at the same recital but was sitting much closer to the stage and just found it extremely beautiful and enjoyable and could hear him just fine.

[Heartlessiceboy]

listen to David Daniels , Brian Asawa or Phillipe Jaroussky cause u can be a countertenor and have a powerful rich like any contralto,mezzo o r soprano voice AND FULL AN OPERA HOUSE!!!!instead that small choir boy like voice

by the way r u a countertenor?

[Heartlessiceboy]

first im not saying that hi does it bad in his technique

what im saying is that with that technique he cant sing opera , he cant sing lieds, he can sing dowland and of course not very high things cause he dont really have high notes

but wit that small voice without vibrato and power he cant sing opera!!!

[gehaktmolen]

Yes, i'm a countertenor. But beside that, read the posts of Gibran. I agree with that, thats all i have to say:) There is no countertenor like Scholl.

[Heartlessiceboy]

cause his voice is not for sing an opera, he's good as a liederist but not work for opera,thats why many people still prefers to hear a good mezzo or contralto than a old school countertenor...by the way Teresa Berganza sings Verdi Prati in such a beatiful way

[Heartlessiceboy]

he has a beatiful voice ,but his old english german technique is terrible,like i said before the voice is truly beatiful but is also al colorless , no vibrato , short extension and a very small voice

he needs to learn bel canto like David Daniels if he wants to do good opera performances especially if hi sings with amazing singers like renee fleming.

[gehaktmolen]

hahaha omg u don't know where you're talking about. Terrible technique? HAHAHA

His technique works perfect. Who are u to correct his technique. You're really dumb, sorry.

[furballvie]

signed

[ariodante76]

I fall in love with his voice again and again. He will enter the annals of great opera legends of the 21st Century.

[civileso]

It is such a delight to hear him sing with minimal accompaniment! Just one lute or a harpsicord, and he can fill the rest himself with such resonance and rich harmonics of his voice.

[Gibran11]

Angelical! Text below: Verdi prati, selve amene, perderete la beltà. Vaghi fior, correnti rivi, la vaghezza, la bellezza presto in voi si cangerà. Verdi prati, selve amene, perderete la beltà. E cangiato il vago oggetto all'orror del primo aspetto tutto in voi ritornerà.

[civileso]

I love this one so much.. Thanks!