i normally am not a fan of counter tenors (even though i think this guy might be a tenor) but he is not only great here, but his lullaby earlier in the opera is breath taking.
a quick look at a history book will tell you that there is a 500-year old tradition in the theatre and in musical productions of people playing characters that are of a different sex from themselves. Quite normal!
I AM FULLY AWARE OF THIS. I am not a complete idiot who lives under a rock. Shakespeare did this all the time. HOWEVER, I have found it very rare in opera for MEN to play WOMEN in a skirt role other than comic reasons. In fact, trouser roles are some of my favourite in all of opera: Sesto, Oktavian, Cherubino, the Composer, Ariodante, Ruggiero, Orpheus, etc. DOn't Tell me I'm uncultured and ignorant!
I apologise if I offended you! That was not at all my intention. (And I don't call you uncultured or ignorant.) What I meant about the history book was that it's important to remember that, for much of european modern history, it was forbidden for women to appear on stage at all, including in Shakespeare's time. So in his plays, if you saw a women dressed as a man, it was always a man playing a woman who was dressing like a man. So that's why I said it was quite normal.
@olympicfreak678 Hmm... defensive much? I didn't see anyone call you "uncultured and ignorant."
Nonetheless... refer to the title role in Rameau's Platee, or the Fairy in Les Paladins. Also, the Witch in Handel's Saul (an oratatorio, but an example of En Travesti). The castrato Farinelli played several female roles during the Baroque period.
@olympicfreak678 Oh... and let's not forget one of the first operas ever: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo where the prima donna Euridice was played by a male castrato as well as the character Speranza in the same opera.
It's odd to think that, as the remainder of this opera, including "Pur ti miro," was written by Francesco Sacrati, this is almost certainly the very last piece of music that Monteverdi ever wrote.
I love this Film, pity there are no subtitles to put on it, the way Ponelle and his singers respond to the libretto, which is in itself a masterpiece, is so much more appearent when you know exactly what they are singing.
This version is brilliantly sung and acted...I remeber seeing him in Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" as Fredric. Such a drastic change!
ahah sembra Moira Orfei! Fantastica interpretazione comunque!
wellbn1 8 months ago
i normally am not a fan of counter tenors (even though i think this guy might be a tenor) but he is not only great here, but his lullaby earlier in the opera is breath taking.
moghedien13 10 months ago
@moghedien13 This is an high tenor, not a countertenor.
udatorbas 7 months ago
Tenor Totalis :D
Best Arnalta ever :D
kamiwe 1 year ago
can you add the rest of this movie?
jfbecks17 2 years ago
no i cannot
taqseem 2 years ago
ok, well thank you anyway, what you have up here already is great.
jfbecks17 2 years ago
Okay, I still dont get it. Why is this character a MAN????? It looks ridiculous, and this opera does not seem very silly.
olympicfreak678 3 years ago
a quick look at a history book will tell you that there is a 500-year old tradition in the theatre and in musical productions of people playing characters that are of a different sex from themselves. Quite normal!
4772883 2 years ago 2
I AM FULLY AWARE OF THIS. I am not a complete idiot who lives under a rock. Shakespeare did this all the time. HOWEVER, I have found it very rare in opera for MEN to play WOMEN in a skirt role other than comic reasons. In fact, trouser roles are some of my favourite in all of opera: Sesto, Oktavian, Cherubino, the Composer, Ariodante, Ruggiero, Orpheus, etc. DOn't Tell me I'm uncultured and ignorant!
olympicfreak678 2 years ago
I apologise if I offended you! That was not at all my intention. (And I don't call you uncultured or ignorant.) What I meant about the history book was that it's important to remember that, for much of european modern history, it was forbidden for women to appear on stage at all, including in Shakespeare's time. So in his plays, if you saw a women dressed as a man, it was always a man playing a woman who was dressing like a man. So that's why I said it was quite normal.
4772883 2 years ago
I have found that earlier operas usually tend to have more of this play-ish field in the sense that they are more like a drama just with music.
olympicfreak678 2 years ago
@olympicfreak678 Hmm... defensive much? I didn't see anyone call you "uncultured and ignorant."
Nonetheless... refer to the title role in Rameau's Platee, or the Fairy in Les Paladins. Also, the Witch in Handel's Saul (an oratatorio, but an example of En Travesti). The castrato Farinelli played several female roles during the Baroque period.
IfByWhiskey486 1 year ago
@olympicfreak678 Oh... and let's not forget one of the first operas ever: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo where the prima donna Euridice was played by a male castrato as well as the character Speranza in the same opera.
IfByWhiskey486 1 year ago
It's odd to think that, as the remainder of this opera, including "Pur ti miro," was written by Francesco Sacrati, this is almost certainly the very last piece of music that Monteverdi ever wrote.
kkallebb 3 years ago
I love this Film, pity there are no subtitles to put on it, the way Ponelle and his singers respond to the libretto, which is in itself a masterpiece, is so much more appearent when you know exactly what they are singing.
But thank you anyway taqseem
CzarDodon 4 years ago
This passages with Ottavia and Seneca are as good as all the others. I hope that you will post them as well.
apodyterion 4 years ago
This version is brilliantly sung and acted...I remeber seeing him in Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" as Fredric. Such a drastic change!
hillevifan 4 years ago