"Ombra mai fu" (Paula Rasmussen, "Serse")

[magpie212]

I first listened to this because of the great costume, hair and makeup. I have since ordered the DVD and can't say enough good things about this production -- set design, costumes, strong cast overall, brilliant direction -- but it's Rasmussen's stunning performance that clinches it. Check out her explosive Crude furie, and her hilarious Io le diro and Piu che penso. She's perhaps the best operatic actress I've ever seen, not to mention the spot on vocals and the exquisite timbre.

[ramirogorriti]

Me recuerda un poco a Federica Von Stade. En el timbre, en la técnica.

[vollkornflocke]

WUNDERSCHÖN !!!

[skip8619]

Adore the plane.

[HM0880]

Absolutely beautiful!  Paula has such a lovely, unique timbre-- rich yet bright. Thank you for posting. :)

[mambulatifa2]

Je trouve ça vraiment pas terrible comme version. Pas beaucoup d'émotion.

[mariandelochs]

@mambulatifa2

lol.

[lababoc]

BRAVO !!!!

[perrot38]

Quelle horreur ! La musique baroque telle qu'on la jouait dans les années 60... plein de pathos romantique. Jetez-moi çà tout de suite !

[Kallergianakis]

Ombra mai fu

di vegetabile

cara ed amabile,

soave più...

[satsatur]

É um milagre!!!!!!!!!!

[palcika1]

I can't find the 'Troppo oltraggi' you recommend in the description. Is it deleted or what? I'd like to hear it.

[mariandelochs]

Oops, so sorry - yes, I deleted that video clip a long time ago, haven't updated the info on these other vids! Don't think I have the original clip to upload anymore. My sincere apologies!

[palcika1]

What a pity! No version is quite satisfactory on youtube....

Looks like I have to buy the dvd. :)

[mariandelochs]

The DVD is well worth the purchase price! Hope you find a good price for it. I already gave mine away to a friend, haven't repurchased another copy since.

[Cissy97]

@mariandelochs

I have seen it. Truly awesome!

[poggiline]

I love the staging. Who is the director?

[mariandelochs]

Michael Hampe, quite a well-known German opera director.

[chrissing7]

this is just perfect performance and of course her voice without doubt

[mairadp]

Amazing!

[Drelnis]

This is the Dresden festival? What an amazing set design!

[kaibzolis]

0:42

[Corenero]

Brava. Bravissima!! Excellent technique. Does anyone knows about her lately?

[SANPH]

I think I read somewhere that she was on indefinite hiatus from performance in order to study... Law :(

[Senecart81]

Paula, please get your own website, make CD's when you can and I will buy them. It looks like others might too! This performance is stunning and you have a beautiful voice.

[magpie212]

@Senecart81 A little late, but let me add my voice to this plea.

[Hirnhinweg]

a little too much tremolo, but nevertheless wonderful! there is music experts around: could this part bes sung by a tenor? (i guess "crude furie" could be difficult!)

[CelloVoice]

I can say only one thing here :) The trick of the air of xerxe is to be sang by man not by woman, because i hope that all of us know, that this aria has been written by handel for counter-tenore and it's real image is to be performed by counter-tenore!!! But i should say that this performance is pretty good and i like it :)

[Thrax1982]

He did not write this for countertenor but for a castrato. Handel used countertenors only in some oratorios, never in operas.

[CelloVoice]

Yeah for castrato's but actually now there are no castrato's left so the countertenors are the only alternative and i must say that they aren't badder than the castrato's!!!

[Thrax1982]

There are many countertenors who could sing this aria (whether one likes the sound or not is a different question) There are only few who could sing the part of Serse though, most arias are higher than this one as far as I know.

And about contertenors being no worse than castrati - I'm sorry but all I can say is lol

:P

[nicosupersex]

a contertenor singing taht so high?... it sounds ridiculous, sorry

[Cissy97]

@CelloVoice

You are wrong. Handel wrote this aria for castrato singers AND mezzo-sopranos.

He specifically ruled out counter-tenors.

[overtwenty2007]

She is the prettiest mezzo voice that I ever ever heard! A very good positive rolemodel for me as being a mezzo, too! And how she sings this aria with such calm, wonderful!

[SeanMinn]

Good luck to your journey for the painful, yet profound and joyous world of music. I hope I can listen to your performance some day.

[Erock5718]

im having trouble with the recit. its such a beautiful aria though. its good songs that make me stay with being a music major.

[DrHanLecter]

In my opinion one of the best songs Handel composed for the opera! Like it very much.

[hagebe80]

Fantastic song, great voice!

[olebabs]

Lovely performance. A shame that she has not sung in Copenhagen. My absolut favorite aria

[thelouisfanclub]

beautiful.

[Partypump]

-I love the staging and set design here. In particular the ENORMOUS tree which is relevant not only to the power of her voice and acting but to the piece itself. DRAMAlicious!

[preobrazheiskaia]

Es hermoso, toda la opera es hermosa. No se por que no la ven más, pero en realidad es hermosa y las 3 intérpretes son fabulosas. Hermoso

[mariandelochs]

Sí, estoy de acuerdo con Usted. Gracias por su comentario.

[ogdjcl]

majestueux ! peut-être un peu "écrasant", si l'on se rapporte à la "légèreté" du titre de ce morceau ?

[mariandelochs]

Mais oui !