Villazón & Handel - Dopo Notte, from Ariodante

[PrimaRagazza]

I actually love this! Even I can hear it's not technically perfect but the *way* he sings it and puts it across is so infectious and by far the most *convincing* rendition I have yet heard. Esp the "ah ah ah" bits, he actually does perfectly IMO - some people unfortunately manage to make them sound a bit er. too joyous - how can I put it? :)

[jaketaz]

I'm not an authority. Here's my two cents anyway:

1. RAPID ONSETS are not the same thing as COLORATURA

2. This aria hides his bad intonation because it's so fast you don't notice. Can't always hide it though - like his first high note at 1:15.

3. At 3:25 - wrong rhythms are not the same thing as either "expression" nor "ornamentation"

4. I don't like this "Spanish Italian" language he has invented here

5. WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING from 5:10-5:30

No offense to his fans.

[BaroqueJazzPlays]

OK – seen it a few times now, maybe ‘terrible’ was a tad harsh, I think it was the shock of a tenor (not on my top list of tenors) doing an aria for mezzo... still feels like watching a car crash...

[BaroqueJazzPlays]

Oh dear, from all the 'positive' comments below I feel like I’m the only one who thinks this is terrible... I must be missing something :>0

[skingaz]

I loved this and REALLY don't get people's objection to it. You have an amazing singer, singing amazing music....amazingly! What's not to like? I really do think that all this fixation with "historically-informed" performance (as quoted elsewhere) sucks the JOY out of the music....and that CANNOT be good.

[IA2329]

Very very good but I like Bostridge as well. Impressive ornamentation

[skingaz]

Well, I've compared Bostridge and Villazon on this and I actually prefer Villazon's harder, brighter tone. I know I'll be in a minority with that though.

[vivacecilia]

Baroque is an another thing!!

[mkurnat]

freakin' sweet jacket

[patukott]

Good diction !

[chanteurion]

That was a whole hell of a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Sr. Villazon's voice is much more flexible than I anticipated. I do think however, it's better suited to verissimo arias/roles. But hey, what are concerts and recitals for. IAN BOSTRIDGE on the other hand is amazing singing this piece (or anything Handel for that matter). Ian's "Great Handel" Album is a revelation.

[gslanfranchi]

@chanteurion Thank you for the input. I'll definitely check on this Bostridge's album.

[actionsrlouder]

The coloratura sounds weird to my ears.

[GiovanniCarestini]

Those who suppose that this should not be sung by a tenor are obviously poor scholars of Handel. The composer himself inserted this aria, in the original key (just as Villazon sings it), into the December 1736 revival of Poro, where it was sung by the tenor John Beard in the role of Alessandro, replacing the aria "Serbati, a in grandi imprese", which was the original number sung by Annibale Pio Fabri, the tenor in the same role in February 1731.

[gslanfranchi]

@GiovanniCarestini

Thank you, this was an useful input into the 'tenor singing Handel'... thing.

[whomakemefeel]

Now I do like R.Villazón because he sung Händel opera aria! He should go into Baroque Musik alot more to perform the greatest master of this area (Vivaldi, Bach, Händel etc) as long he into those great composers because its the real challenge for any singer.

[betylu18]

Gracias a Rolando Villazon es que conoci a Handel y ahora me gusta tanto que me sorprendo a mi misma tarareando estas bellas arias del barroco, y eso que mi voz es de ducha solamente...jejeje

[hyataganh]

Afther he do alot mistakes in Romatinc and bel canto opera...he trying now do the same in Barroco Opera...I thinking people be crazy more and more....Like Cecilia Bartoli, She just fight to be a Mezzo, than some day she awakens and recording CASTA DIVA. GOD LORD! THIS PEOPLE JUST WANT SALES CD's... MIDIA...THIS MEN NOW MAKE BARROC RECORDINS...WHERE THIS WILL STOPING...HE MORE THAN NEVER IS BARITONO...JUST THIS BARITONO.

[grandadpoppyable]

I notta cant notta cee what u person men fine dissagre dissa video. Rolando like Hadel ana Imster aHandel likka hem.

[littlechildren01]

i must confess that i was ready to completely hate this,,, but damm, it is actually pretty good!

it ´s nice to be surprised like this once in a while!

[gslanfranchi]

@littlechildren01

I must confess I had the same feelings at the time I first saw it. That's why I decided to upload the video.

[annalisaloizzo]

I love his rendition....he gets the essence of the piece perfectly! He does a great job!! Love you Rolando!! I especially love the second time through. His florid passages as brilliant and he's so Musical!!!!!!

[sharky123]

Honestly, I don't get the "tenors shouldn't sing this" mentality. Then Bach should ONLY be played on an organ or harpsichord NEVER a piano . . . by the same logic Ludwig and other great female singers should not have been allowed "Winterreise" and . . . you get the idea.  He has some trouble with the lowest notes, I'll overlook those easily for the gloriousness of the rest. If you can't enjoy it, why listen? Oh yes, to complain, that's why. Have fun with that!

[Gobbi2007]

Damn, another group of couch-potato music critics. No, he will never be Anne-Sophie or Vivica, but he does very well compared to other run-of-the-mill mezzos presently holding major recording contracts (cough, cough, Garanca). His quick trill, his attack of the high notes, and his cadenza solve some issues in the score for a role not written for a male voice. Great performance. Nothing to complain about, ladies. Whatever you criticize, IT IS YOUR TASTE.

[miroslawa71]

egal wie schlecht es mir geht, wie tief unten ich sein kann, erweckt dieser Mann mit der wunderbaren Musik die Freude wieder in mir....

Die Leichtigkeit, die so deutlich von seinem Gesicht abzulesen ist, wirkt anstecken... wie schön das doch ist....

[acitipo]

En su camino a ser el sucesor de Placido canta tambien Haendel....Y no lo hace mal!

[citizenross]

Very lively performance - although perhaps he could stop moving around so much - he's making me feel a little nauseous...

[KARINADIVA]

If Handel didn't write it for a tenor, it probably shouldn't be sung by a tenor, in my opinion, however lovely! To be honest I like the voice in this, and prefer men to sing men's roles!

[KARINADIVA]

I loved it, but some of the lower notes seem a bit too low, sounding a bit bassy.

[rtroilus]

Not sure why Rolando is performing this aria. He's amazing beyond belief, but there's plenty of other Handel such as Tamerlano that would sound formidable with his flexibility! But can he sing Handel well and stylistically? In my opinion, ABSOLUTELY! =)

[swiftsboy]

PS:~

I agree with Rosecrus,

if you want a great singer performing this you cannot beat Janet Baker,or if you prefer a contemporary singer then Vivica Genaux.

[lalagonegaga]

Yep, even after 30 years, Dame Janet Baker is pretty much the best Ariodante there is. Even Von Otter under Minkowski (and Minko is a reincarnation of Handel, if you ask me :) hasn't been able come close. It is possible that no one will ever top Baker's perfect interpretation.

[swiftsboy]

Much as I deeply admire Rolando(and I do)

This is just not in his fach,and is not an aria that should be sung by a tenor.

Even a voice like Ian Bostridge cannot bring it off.

[Rosecrus]

I'd much rather listen to Janet Baker sing it .....but thanks anyway, gslanfranchi.