Crude furie degl' orridi abissi - Sarah Connolly (Xerxes)

[Cissy97]

Connolly sings very well!

Her timbre is not as full as Paula Rasmussen's, though.

[Arsamenes1]

It's quite funny, that in the years in which Connoly sang the Xerxes in the revival of the older ENO production, originally casted with Ann Murray, Murray sang it in a new production (in italian) at the munich opera house.By the way, still with Christopher Robson as Arsamene like in the original ENO production.

[melodiaavis]

antmusique, thanks very much for this. It is a pity the recording seems a bit muffled, but it is fun to be able to see what is going on by looking at the (excellent) Ann Murray clip of the same production. Connolly has said that Murray is a role-model of hers. One can see why.

[meyerhoff31]

I have the Murray video so I'll have a look at it again and let you know what is happening.

[mariandelochs]

Oh, this is an ENO production! So no wonder I couldn't hear 'crude furie' etc. in the lyrics! Nice translation, though, that goes with the rhythm of the music - although I can't make out more than a few words in it. (Has ENO continued with the English subtitles today?) Nice, brisk pace set up by Harry Bicket.

[antmusique]

Someone posted the lyrics in the Ann Murray clip:

Rise ye Furies from baleful abysses

Come bespatter me with your foul venom

Spray me with venom!

Heav'n is blackened

By fiercesome eclipses

Which proceed from the wrath in my bosom.

[mariandelochs]

Yay, thank you! The translation works very well with the music - even sounds like Italian at times! Thanks, antmusique. :)

[horseyak]

Thanks for this, antmusique!. She does a fine job, but I have to say I still prefer Paula's version . I adore Connelly, but for whatever reason, her sound sounds trapped in the back of her throat and I'm missing her usual lovely resonance. It's interesting hearing all these fine singers tackle this aria. I'm going to see Susan Graham as Xerses in May and am curious to see what she does with it. Again, thanks for posting.

[antmusique]

I think the recording doesn't help much... The sounds seems to be very muffled.

[mariandelochs]

Thanks for this, antmusique! Worth the wait! (Now I'm wondering what all those explosive sounds were about! (You know, Paula Rasmussen's rendition - which I posted a long time ago - isn't half bad, either, considering the technical difficulties of singing this aria.)

[antmusique]

I'm quite intrigued by the audience laughing at 3:41. I wonder what was going on...

I really like Joyce DiDonato's rendition as well. There's a clip on YouTube of her singing it on French TV, and her energy is simply amazing.

[interpreterr]

@antmusique Try the video with Ann Murray (available on Youtube) - it's from the same production and there's laughter at the end as well

Agree about DiDonato's rendition (French TV clip) - fantastic! I've watched it quite a few times...

[antmusique]

I just checked out the Murray video - thanks for the pointer! It's interesting to see what the production looks like.

I keep going back to the DiDonato clip as well. She's fierce and wonderful.