Handel: Semele, HWV 58 "Where'er you walk" Andreas Scholl

[MrTenonSaw]

Fantastic. Great tempo too.

[PrimaRagazza]

Andreas Scholl is the only countertenor, (or even singer), who can sing this piece well enough that it makes me a bit emotional. i'm not the kind of person who thinks certain singers are perfect or can do no wrong but in my opinion, i find it difficult to find anyone who can sing his repertoire better.

[izaak41]

mind=blown.

[cnjansen96]

i'm singing this in choir!

[Krotalopaffuto]

AWSOME



[chocchipcookiegirl]

This is a guy? Wow, such talent! ^^

[DaKears2011]

This is one of the best Handel pieces for voice, and it's much slower than a typical Handel piece

[susannahmcdnld]

Lovely voice but I don't equate a counter tenor with Jupiter singing to his earth mistress - unless its a 'godly' voice!

[Zuukarimoto]

where can i get the sheet music for this version i want 2 play the accompaniment but the version i hv is really difficult

[lsplord]

Is this a bloke?!

[johnyprestige]

@lsplord Yes

[madorganist]

@lsplord Yes, it is a bloke. A bloke with an outstanding voice!

[nonnopirro52]

Wunderbar, meraviglioso..

[melancholyhumour]

Beautiful voice...

[HerrWarja]

I love it when singers interpretate piece that are outside there repetoir/voicetype. Bryn Terfel have also recorded this aria in his range.

[SchrodingerHatedCats]

I learned this piece during voice training and was invited to perform it solo for a college music festival.  That was my very first standing ovation outside of my school or church. I'm a mezzo-soprano.

BTW... I was 12 or 13 years old at the time. It's still one of my all time favorites-- I could sing it in my sleep. :)

[dylshizzle]

This recording is not in G Major. It is actually in Gb or F# Major.

[LoverofLiszt]

@dylshizzle

I´m quite sure that the reason you think that is because this is recorded in Baroque tuning, way lower than the more modern 440 concert-A tuning.

[flaze3]

@pianoman654 Ainsley isn't a counter-tenor--he's a tenor-

[civileso]

@flaze3 This aria IS a tenor aria. And Ainsley does sing it well.

[flaze3]

@civileso I KNOW. And I AGREE.

[ThinkCosmic615]

Beautiful song, and beautifully done!

[aseretkavon]

Unbelievable how amazing his voice fits into this register. I am currently looking at my own music book, written for women's voicing, MEDIUM range (for range), written in the same key as it's showing on your video (GM) and this man is easing through the higher notes with EASE! This is absolutely amazing.

[wonderdog13]

Gorgeous!

[jutescrim]

Personally I can't stand this man's voice and he ruins this opus

[ControlAltUhOh]

@jutescrim I don't honestly think it's possible to ruin music from composers on the level of Handel.... you could say it's not your cup of tea, or even that you "can't stand it" is fine, but to say a renowned performer ruined a piece just shows ignorance and intolerance toward other people's interpretations of art, and disrespect to the composer.

[pyrrooo]

@jutescrim you ruin this page

[vtyw93]

You have a nice collection.

[Ehmiy321]

I, too, am learning this in my singing lessons, although that one D sharp is so.......awkward(?) for me. It's not that I can't song that high, it's just that everytime I sing it, I feel like it doesn't fit. Does anyone else notice this? Or am I just weird >_>....?

[ThinkCosmic615]

@Ehmiy321 True...I'm a college freshman, and this is one of my jury pieces. The D sharp is definitely awkward to sing, but I like the way it fits.

[TheAaronmoses]

What a Divine Voice ! No woman --- no man on earth can sing like this ....

[LovesMusicMelina]

I'm learning this in my lessons and it's absolutely beautiful. :)

[andge1001]

I love this song, and I love Scholl's voice. Thanks for uploading. About the cords and lyrics, did you scan them in from paper and edit in a dias-like show, or is it possible to buy clips like this somewhere?

[rhyfelwrDuw]

Fantastic - beautiful voice!

[yezdnil]

This was one of the first arias I learned at school. It was my mum's favourite, and I sang it at her funeral. It has a very special place in my heart.

[paulwilsonmusician]

could i have a copy of this score please?

[teresajoh]

Brings back memories of junior school. We did this as part of our choir concert...tho maybe we didn't sound quite like this!

[hamishdawson]

gorgeous rendition - warm, but crisp and even

[SuzyMcCheese]

ugh, they just don't write 'em like this anymore...

[Ericaa989]

ahh heaven

[bunkerDOTcom]

i sang this today for a solo contest and got a perfect score, i was so excited! :D

[daleglen]

Tears . . . so beautiful

[jmc6787]

It sounds good i like it :)

[Joxoxoxoxo]

He sounds like a chick. heehee

[kandinskij]

Absolute Masterpiece.

[ironicallysatirical]

With a da capo aria of that era, it was written for the first, or "A" section to be sung as written the first time through the verse. The "B" section of the aria, "Where ere you tread..." is sung, and then the singer returns to the "A" section.

During the second time through the "A" section, the singer would add ornementation to the written notes (hence the "high G").

[Lalaxiaa]

in my opinion, if he were really a baroque singer, he would ornament much more on the repeat than he does in this recording.

[8497289]

all he's sung his entire career is baroque, sometimes a little restraint is needed so as not to obscure the phrasing of the music.

[Lalaxiaa]

and yet, neither the baroque audience nor the baroque musician would care much about the phrasing rather than the display of virtuosity at the end of a da capo aria.

[8497289]

the phrasing can tell you how to embellish the music in a da capo aria. Arias that have repeated themes such as triplets (for example) lend themselves to embellishment. Some arias can allow it, some can't, and I think this aria deserves restraint, especially when seen in the context of the work it comes from.

[ToccataInF]

Hey, we can't have everything.  He does a credible job.

[HaraldLH]

anyone who can match this version of this aria, please let me know!

[WelshLibertarian]

I will concede to you on this one.

[jthameschoir]

Match this. does that mean sing it like this? I can.

[Sh2theB]

Bejun Mehta !!!! the most beautiful version I have ever heard in my life....

[wenglishsal]

This is beautiful and I can't stop my self from singing it... I am nowhere near Andreas' magnificent voice, but I do love to sing... this makes me smile from ear to ear and is helping me to learn to read music too...

I normally learn any piece by ear, so being able to actually read the notes is immensely helpful...

Love it and love andreas' voice too...Rapturous stuff this 5*****'s :0)x

[avellanedam]

He had just been in my city giving masterclasses, he's a great person and he transmits his knowledge with passion, as well as he sings. Excellent!

[JRBwithME]

That last bit was so not in the notes but the voice is lovely. (Cannot read music but can sing a bit and have cottoned on).

[Zeplovr333]

Andreas Scholl is bad ass. true story.

[kingurfay]

maybe bad ass, but good voice...

[ramron333]

excellent but check out rick wakeman version on u tube

[ramron333]

sorry excellent rick wakeman piano versiom has been removed

[DJAngiePangie]

I am learning to sing this. So pretty!

[PercivalBlakeney]

Angie, as with so many of Handel's arias, you will be SOOOO gald you did learn it. When you HAVE got it learned... upload it. Dare ya!! ;-)

[busybee720]

You'd think the piece was written for counter-tenor. This is fabulous! His voice is fabulous!

[dylshizzle]

@busybee720 It actually was written originally as a male castrato part, which was performed by John Beard

[buildsbest]

Absolutely fabulous voice

[ThePastorale]

Andreas Scholl is sublime I love counter tenors but he outshines the others especially singing such a wonderful aria

[ThatWasOdd]

I have to sing this for an exam! Ah!

[suemumd]

my daughter sang this for her grade 5 singing exam see video response suemumd where she sang it again at a recent recital.

[ghostxrequiem]

so did I!

it was SO MUCH FUN!

[XoXKayleyBXoX]

omg! my teacher wants me to sing this in a school talent show :S Should I?

[Darknight1989]

Yes you should. It's a beautiful song. Especially the F and the G because those are the notes that most Tenors shine on! =]

[DevaRupa]

Go for it and let us know how you go!!

[Aniretak205]

Beautiful. I much prefer a countertenor singing this than a regular tenor.

[DubhglasPiobaire]

This resembles a movement in Telemann's "La Changeante", heard occasionally on the radio here. Has anyone else noticed this?

[frenchpartyboy977]

omg this is the most amazing recording i have ever heard. does anyone know what the meaning behind it is, because i have to record where'er you walk for my college CD....

[DubhglasPiobaire]

Look up Semele in Wikipedia. The English version is more complete than the French. In the song Jupiter tries to seduce Semele by describing (in very flowery language -- think Watteau) a forest scene in which the trees and breezes ensure her comfort, and flowers spring up at her feet.

Our music teacher at school had us 10-year olds learn to sing this song back in 1962!

[iloveLIBERA]

check out the vid "Semele" on my channel. there the whole myth is explained

[SocialEtiquette]

Beautifully produced and very well edited. The fidelity of the compressed audio is most impressive. Brava!

[cooper91]

I pulled this out to help me write my essay and now I just find myself sitting listening to it!

[cooper91]

andreas scholl has such a rare and elusive voice - simply heavenly.

[slmala999]

I adore this Handel piece. You have a lovely voice! :-)

[classictomatosoup]

The singer in this piece is Andreas Scholl, a famous countertenor (a male). :)

[slmala999]

Oh right thanks for that info! Wasn't sure who it was- I thought whoever is singing sounds great haha ;)

[rwsmith29456]

I was digging through old tapes of my singing lessons from around 1980 and found a version of me doing this. Have mercy I sound young!

[uniquelle]

singing this version in my singing lessons at the moment.. really love it!

[JasperInsanity13]

I'm singing these for my lesson too! i love it! what else are you singing?

[uniquelle]

Lark in the clear air, my mother bids me bind my hair, golden slumbers. haven't had lessons for very long, so not many songs yet!

How about you?

[JasperInsanity13]

Wll, I'm singing Ave Maria, Se Tu Mami Sospiri, and now I'm working on States Honors music.

[golucky11]

i loveee ave maria. one of my favorites.

[classictomatosoup]

Me, three! :D

[arkamina]

Adore your videos, and appreciate the score with the music. Thank you!

[Mimameior]

Handel is purity and beauty beyond what this world deserves...

[locomotifx]

@Mimameior And yet, what it so sorely needs!

[firebreathone]

Why doesn't it load

[codonauta]

Civileso, I set here that aria from ' Judas Maccabaeus" , the similar aria to that one from Semele, as video response. I don't know if you've already known that.

[codonauta]

Interesting. We find part of this aria in Judas Macabeus ( Oratorio - 1747 ), an aria to countertenor too. Handel really liked to retake his earlier composition during the composition of new ones. As J S Bach.

[frphilipmullen]

Bravissimo!

[cooper91]

aaaaaa.... what a voice, what a piece!

[redfire20003]

Absolutely Beautiful!!!

[chiaroscurofx]

This voice is so reminiscent of Darien Angadi singing Ariel's song from Shakespeare's The Tempest - "Full fathom five." It's like listening to his thrilling young voice again. Plus - when I was in college - eons ago - this was one of the songs we learned. Thanks no end for this video. C.

[slmala999]

BEAUTIFUL! x

[Tigermuc]

Beautiful aria and voice!

Christian

[stefakamelpash]

A great male alto, at last! This is very beautiful, and very authentic sounding. Love the ornamentation.

[b3ti3]

wow...

[justwatchingyours]

perfect...

[jojomothball]

i sang this for my standard grade voice exam

[Eluchil1]

such a beautiful voice

[civileso]

Out of this world...