Sonia Prina: Torna sol per un momento; Handel (Tolomeo)

[chlagaguel]

Always so much heat and expression in this magnificent voice !

[Thrax1982]

Ahem,

the other video is by Scarlatti...

Never heard about anyone trying to kill Handel,

except his duel with Mattheson.

[BarbaraPloyer333]

Oops....

I heard it on the radio over a year and a half ago, and I only remembered quite briefly, hence got the composer's name wrong. Thank-you for correcting me. I mean, if there's anyone to check with it would be you. Reciting the story like that at least got me to get his true rival's name correct, so thanks dude (or dudat).

Excuse my stupidity. (*blushes*)

[Thrax1982]

Well they weren't rivals with Mattheson, they were friends who had one violent argument.

[BarbaraPloyer333]

Oh, I see. The version I heard on the radio depicted them as rivals, so I obviously got that wrong. Handel did have a rival, though, didn't he? You can't really trust all the stories on the radio, though. Sometimes they'll distribute erroneous information by using Wikipedia as their main resource (free editing isn't really the way to go).

[Thrax1982]

The fight started when Handel was conducting (behind harpsichord) one of Mattheson's operas. Mattheson wanted to take over after he had finished singing the role he wrote for himself but Handel refused to free the place.

So Mattheson slapped him and they drew swords. Handel's life was saved by his coat button.

Handel did have many real rivals too later in life.

[BarbaraPloyer333]

Yes! That's the story from the radio!!

Oh- did he have a difficult character, like Beethoven and the like?

[Thrax1982]

Handel?

Yes.

Actually, I think difficult characters are quite common among composers.

[BarbaraPloyer333]

Nice. =)

Did Mozart also have a difficult character? What about Bach, Haydn or Tchaikovsky? Apparently Tchaikovsky was a bit of a wimp, though.

[Thrax1982]

Don't know much about Bach.

Papa Haydn was a really nice person, I think.

Tchaikovsky, well... :P

Don't really know much about him either.

Mozart?

Listen to this (and read all the comments).

watch?v=TfIH8OgKCHU

xD

[BarbaraPloyer333]

(*laughs*)

OK! Not much about a bad temper there, but a real naughty sense of humor!

Bach apparently wasn't a saint either, but.... I don't know much about that.

[bubblykings]

Oh yes, I'm totally with you on that. Composers usually do have quite difficult characters...that's part of the reason why they're so talented and emotional. :)

[bubblykings]

Handel nearly got killed?! *crying*

I love him...love his coat button too...lol ;)