Otto's lament from AGRIPPINA

[erhard58]

Does the singer feel bad? He seems he's falling every minute and that a doctor has to be called....

[hotbaroque]

Since when a baryton sings this aria? This is an horror

[popraprockfreak1]

I totally disagree.

[popraprockfreak1]

Why do you say it's horrible? Because it is sung by a baritone? Personally, I do not like when male roles are sung by countertenors or contraltos and wouldn't like them being sung by castrati. I mean, come on, it was an incredibly cruel practice! Anyway, nothing compares to a natural, low male voice. But that is just me: I am a baritone, afterall.

I guess you don't like one of my CDs, the great recording of Handel's GIULIO CESARE on which bass-baritone Norman Treigle sings Ceaser. Look at it!

[hotbaroque]

This is baroque not romantic music. Yours is a conception of music of the stone era....nothing about philological musique. Handel wrote this not for a baryton.

[thebarroque]

Your point of view at least with Ottone is totally wrong and without any historical base! Handel composed the role of Ottone for Francesca Vanini-Boschi... a Woman! So this is not a Castrato role, this is a role for a woman who is going to be dressed up as a man.

You should read carefully before give any oppinion, If you do so you would realise that at least in Handel there are many male roles composed for female contraltos and also in his oratorios roles composed for countertenors.

[popraprockfreak1]

OK, thanks for correction. I guess I had Nero in mind when writing about Otto. But my view on "pants roles" is the same, with the exception of youthful characters like Cherubino. Otto on the contrary is a general and deserving of a low voice.

[BethDiane]

Yes, but in Baroque opera, the more important characters have high voices--it's part of the architecture. So, for example, when the opera is actually _about_ Ceasar, Ceasar is an alto--as in Giulio Cesare. When it's not about him, as in Agrippinia, he can be a tenor or a bass. Regardless of being a general or not.

BTW, check out Sarah Connolly as Giulio Cesare singing "Va tacito." Just amazing and totally convincing!

[baalhaophanim]

Vincent Price agggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[baalhaophanim]

horrible

[Savant28]

My favorite!!!