Fritz Wunderlich Handel: Xerxes "Ombra mai fu" (Largo)

[duffman7793]

His death wasn't an accident, he shot himself in the face.

[Cissy97]

Fritz sung the title role of Serse once live under Kubelik.

I wish that performance's recording is available!

[HerbicidalManiac]

Frondi tenere e belle del mio platano amato per voi risplenda il fato.

Tuoni, lampi, e procelle non v'oltraggino mai la cara pace,nè giunga a profanarvi austro rapace.

Ombra mai fu di vegetabile, cara ed amabile, soave più.

Tender and beautiful fronds of my beloved plane tree, let Fate smile upon you.

May thunder, lightning, and storms never bother your dear peace,

nor may you by blowing winds be profaned.

A shade there never was, of any plant, dearer and more lovely, or more sweet.

[GrantBridger]

Listening to this song as a young musical theatre singer on 'cassette' given me by another tenor in the chorus which made me want to sing in Opera. And I did. Lucia di Lammermoor and

The Pearl Fishers. Want a glorious sound. opens the heart right up. Thanks to whoever posted this

[qw3rtydud3]

Stunning. RIP, Fritz.

[kmensinga5]

voor mij ook een geweldige tenor prachtige hoge stem

[Pearlaceous]

Just compelling beauty - wonderful to hear!

[jswartele1]

schitterend ...wat een zuivere stem en uiterst delicaat gezongen

[perolsen1958]

Time stops as you listen. Pure magic!

[FernandoTUSAZ]

Check this one, too

watch?v=3xNpKHP6Q3Y&feature=wa­tch_response

[ReturnToForever666]

Wunderlich. One of the best tenors ever. Too bad we lost him at such a young age.

Amazing version, very emotional.

[OrangStefan]

Wow, wow, wow!

[ilex50]

Dignidad y emoción. Inolvidable. 

[CanadaPisces]

An outstanding rendition by a great tenor who died too soon! Thank you Paul for the uploading of this lovely recording!

[ooOErzengelOoo]

Best interpretation of this masterpiece I've found on YT yet.

[1baratone]

wonderful !!!

[jan39able]

He was one of the best

[1baratone]

one of my favorite Arias and orchestrial pieces!!!!

[dovic3107]

I search this song for a long time and I hope this is the best version of this song !!

[TheAdmiringFool]

Hi Fritz, Your Italian sounds pretty good here...not to mention...your great technique, sensitive phrasing, heavenly voice....Oh! Speaking of Heaven...Still a little pissed at you for skipping out so early...See You Soon, TAF

[rometube]

I find it lovely and touching but at times seems more a Xtmas song than a baroque piece. His voice is great, though.

[SHICOFF1]

One of the greatest lyric tenors of all time with a warm voice that could equal any lyric voice for Italian warmth, not Italian but he had that warmth plus artistry, an amazing artist. Like with Josef Schmidt he died too young at 35 years old.

[HOMOBALEARICUS1]

Fritz is the most beautifull voice I have never heard, he was born to sing...... and thanks God we can enjoy with his records

[jrjorgensen2519]

Miss you Fritz Wunderlich. So, so much.

[olympicrange]

So beautiful--- and not "thick" or beefed up like so many tenors these days.

[chiara54324]

Ombra mai fu

Di vegetabile

Cara ed amabile

Soave più.

A sublime page in Opera book!

Thank you, Kestal.

[LohengrinT]

Three tenor have entered my heart cause Im sort of immune to them, Wunderlich, Kaufmann and Vickers

[Angelina1791]

Wenn ich Fritz Wunderlich höre - mit welcher Arie auch immer - möchte ich weinen, denn er ist so unglaublich perfekt, so himmlisch, so absolut großartig. Gerade mit dieser Händel-Arie. Er starb 1966, dem Jahr, in dem ich geboren wurde. Was alles ist uns verloren gegangen mit diesem Tenor, der viel zu früh von uns gehen mußte?

[singerswithpresence]

Thank you for sharing - Wunderlich always top notch, fresh sound, tenderness with testicles behind it and a musical brain to boot! Pavarotti is so different he cld just stand there with his hankie and the voice was just so staggering beautiful you just shut your eyes & wallow in it. But FW what a tragedy to go so soon! Bocelli, Alagna its fine & OK but its pub tenors.

[camposi]

Unser Fritz war halt einer der besten Tenöre - wenn nicht der Beste überhaupt!

[OlDoinyo]

I'm not normally a fan of hearing this aria transposed out of key, but Fritz just aced it here; almost no singers in the era of recorded sound could sing with this kind of intensity (Kathleen Ferrier was one of the few others who could.)

[marchesano]

@OlDoinyo It was transposed up and down a lot in modern era for recordings and before, live. It was very common for operatic tenors to perform/record this in G.

[laertes160]

I still like Andrea Bocelli's version better. His voice seems fuller, but perhaps that is because of modern recording technology, or the fact that Bocelli's mother tongue is Italian and and his diction sounds more natural when singing the Largo.  Also, Bocelli's voice sounds more like a cello, which I like.

[pavoman23]

@laertes160 Dude actually comparing wunderlich and bocelli first off is like comparing a gourmet meal to a happy meal from mcdonalds, bocelli is a nice voice hes not an opera singer and to say bocelli has a fuller voice is funny cuz the thing is bocelli sings with a microphone everywhere he goes because he has a small voice. I dont mean to say bocelli isnt a nice singer but he isnt and will never be in the league of great opera singers like every bocelli fan seems to think.

[almanegra46]

@laertes160 incredible compared to that phase shift bocelli with frizt these looks like you have not heard the repertoire of Fritz Boccelli nothing but a good singer Frizt a master of bel canto

[almanegra46]

@laertes160 incredible compared to that phase shift bocelli with frizt these looks like you have not heard the repertoire of Fritz Boccelli nothing but a good singer Frizt a master of bel canto almanegra46

[acquazzur]

I just LOVE this voice and way of singing!!

[analogyman]

What a tragic death he suffered. Such a loss.

Thanks for posting this lovely version.

[jrjorgensen2519]

Oh my word. I cannot believe I have never heard this recording before. Bravo, bravo!!

[likemusic75]

I do love all of Fritz Wunderlich's recordings,he was a great Opera singer and died much too young.

I have some of his music on CD's in my car and never tire of lisiening.

[likemusic75]

I do love all of Fritz Wunderlich's recordings,he was a great Opera singer and died much too soon.

[araldo09]

Non è straordinario.. La pronuncia italiana è difettosa.. Preferisco Bjorling

[alpinamarmota]

Ja, genau. Fritz Wunderlich war, ist, und wird der Beste Tenor im 20 Jahrhundert.

[ozecke]

fritz wundelich war nicht einer der besten tenöre der welt!!!!

er ist-war und wird immer DER BESTE sein!!!!

[YORKIEYORKYORK]

Perfect -- I also was in tears .

I enjoy Enrico Caruso singing this for all my life . Now here is a close contender .

Brilliant .

[ekonvollm]

Unglaublich, daß diese Aufnahme etlichen Leuten nicht gefällt. Fritz Wunderlich, den ich noch persönlich hören durfte, war einer der besten Tenöre aller Zeiten!

[epicjane]

@ekonvollm Machen Sie sich nichts aus der Unkenntnis anderer.Was gäbe ich darum ihn persönlich gehört zu haben.Da besitzen sie einen kleinen Schatz der Erinnerung!!

[TheAngelsong1]

one ot the best tenors ive heard

[jhaskins75]

I am the bass soloist for the Handel's messiah, performed each year. I am requesting information on Largo " Xerxes " in Vocal English score. I can sing the German text, but prefer the English text version, if it exist. Any information would be highly appreciated Thank you, John. [ jhaskins75@comcast.net ]

[calla4711]

Eigentlich bin ich großer Gigli Fan, besonders bei diesem Stück. Ich bin ich dankbar, dass jemand diese Aufnahme von Wunderlich bei youtube eingestellt hat. Wunderlich war und ist einer der größten Tenöre für mich. Er singt dieses Stück mit Gefühl und einer unglaublichen Leichtigkeit...sehr brillant.

[camposi]

It´s a pity Fritz Wunderlich died very young. He had an accident falling from the stairs of a cabin. He was a wonderful singer and he came from my region (Kusel)!

[alexvivacqua]

Fritz, você tem uma alma e garganta espetaculares. Continue assim. Abs, AlexVivacqua

[tamerlano236]

Great Wunderlich. Bravissimo. Great aria. Another great version on YT is Nicholas Spanos's.

[JeMartele]

Does anyone know the German words to this piece? Is it "Wonnevoll...."??

[Cessie1456]

Nie war der Schatten eines geliebten Baumes lieblicher.

Das ist der Text der Arie, die Fritz hier singt. Ja, Fritz, dein Schatten erreicht uns auch noch 44 Jahre nach deinem Tod und deine Kunst ist noch immer unerreicht. Für mich gibt es keinen vergleichbaren Tenor. Selbst Pavarotti hielt ihn für den größten Tenor aller Zeiten. Und ich denke, dass er damit recht hat. Die Perfektion dieser Gesangsstimme ist atemberaubend. Wunderlich geht einem in die Seele und ins Herz - jedes Mal.

[wasserstand]

@Cessie1456

Dem kann ich mich nur anschließen, damit ist alles gesagt. Wunderlich ist bis heute unerreicht. Besser geht es nicht. Fantastisch!

[pomkoko]

this is simply perfection

[tutullayt]

oh what wonderful rendition!

[lecksiekon]

All diejenigen die sich gern auf youtube präsentieren, all die ach so grossen Klassikstars heutiger Zeit, all die sollten in stiller Demut innehalten , sollten sich überlegen ob sie die Welt weiterhin mit immer schlechter werdender Qualität belästigen wollen, sollten sich Fritz als Vorbild nehmen und erst einmal anfangen zu lernen was Musik eigentlich bedeutet.

Fritz du bleibst unerreichbar!!!

[lecksiekon]

@JussidelMonaco , Tja leider werden heutzutage Sänger eines Kalibers wie Herr Kaufmann gern als neue Stars bezeichnet.

Kaufmann hat weder eine aussergewöhnliche Stimme noch besitzt er etwas ,was man gemeinhin mit funktionierender Technik umschreibt. Es ist ganz fürchterlich ihm zuzuhören. Dieses in den Medien gern als baritonales Abdunkeln(was bitte soll das denn überhaupt sein ? ) beschriebene Knödeln ist ein Graus. Fritz steht für alle Zeiten weit über all diesen Möchtegernstars

[Panzerfausteins]

obwohl

[recorder38]

5*****

[jurek46pink]

Excellent.

Great thanks !

J.

[Herur22]

Really great.

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

"mai" fu

[TheWisemonkey8]

This may be the greatest version Paul. It breaks my heart every time. What a musical communicator. Kind and loving regards,

[camposi]

@TheWisemonkey8 I agree. I like this version most! Pavarotti told in an inteviev "Frritz Wunderlich the best tenor of the century!" I though Pavarotti was it!

[cantorga]

@camposi Pavarotti git one thing right for the first time in his life (singing was most certainkly no his thing), I am shocked, amazed, and amused,,,and believe it or not, in complete accord with hin,

[polemius01]

What a liquid rendition of the aria! Truly remarkable.