Ann Hallenberg, "Scherza infida", Ariodante, Handel

[ALEXISVASSILIEV]

Magnifique un beau chant est a ça place... Merci! AV

[FaustinaBordoni]

Just as there are many approaches to embellishment, so are there many approaches to embellishing an aria. Hallenberg's approach is doubtless ornate. But that doesn't make it wrong. Consider the violin obbligato in "Wann kommst du mein Heil," the first duet in Bach's Cantata 140. Compared to the vocal line, it is quite ornate. But it works. Hallenberg's ornaments, in my opinion, help describe Ariodante's complex emotional state. You hear sadness and regret. But you also hear love.

[giorgioot]

ma che voce bellissima!!!!

[arpicordio]

why just not letting people say whatever they want? lol

[hobgobblet]

She is stunning. Voice like rich butter.

[IlCaroSassone]

Bravissima, Ann, Bravissima!

[wironalga]

The italian language serves this marvelous melodic line at its best. Ravishing beauty and excellent, really excellent diction. Pathos, deprived love, noble despair...

[TFreckle]

Why can't people just suffice to saying that this is really good?

Anyhoo...

This is really good!

[Graviak]

because it is " really good" for you! for me it is " incredible beautiful " so, why do you want me to lie about it?

[TFreckle]

I don't want you to lie, I just want people to stop trying to sound like pompous elitists who can use fancy words.

This aria is, for me, beyond words of description. But that doesn't mean I want to type "It grabs the soul and drags it to hithertofore untold places of immense beauty."

It's just not serious for me.

[Graviak]

Expressing joy and pleasure, in a different ways, is one of the achievements that language brought to the people.

Don´t you think, that when this ariia is beyond words for you, and you comment " it is really good" , than at least i am getting the impression, that there happend nothing special for you.

[hobgobblet]

Do as you like - but why do you feel the need to invalidate people who passionately express themselves when they feel moved?

[olialto7]

There are too many people on Youtube who are wannabe music critics I think... Or perhaps wannabe poets? I'm personally not sure if I'm sold on the heavily ornamented da capo or the rather laboursome tempo, but that's not the same thing as saying that I dislike it, which would not be true anyway.

[Graviak]

oO this is incredible beautful!

we need more da-capos like this one.

[neochmia]

On the radio she explained that the da-capo was written before the first performance of the opera but she did not know if Handel could listen to it. i heard her interview but missed the aria... thanks to you I can finally listen to it... it was indeed a masterpiece!

[DrPrunesquallor73]

This dacapo is based on ornaments written by William Savage. He is known to have been a Bass-singer for Handel, but at the time of the performance of Ariodante he was still a boy-sopran. So there are 2 posibilities: These are Carestini's ornaments, heard and written down by him, or  Savage wrote them for himself, and he sang this aria (in private) himself while he was still a soprano.

[neochmia]

Thank you for the comment !

[asisecanta]

Seen at Santiago de Compostela last week: Unforgetable!!!! Without any doubt, one of the 5 most intense performances I have ever seen.

It almost put me into tears!

Thanks Haendel, thanks Sardelli, thanks Hallenberg!!!

[thebarroque]

This is as beautiful as a rose

[stolof]

Thanks for posting. It is the best rendition of this wonderful aria and I have ever heard. To me Ann Hallenberg is the best and most lovely singer around at the moment.

[joopschilp]

Thanks for posting! You had a good place I suppose! I 'love' Ann Hallenberg! Couldn't be in Beaune the opening weekend, will be there in weekend 17th july 2009.

What recording device you use?

Very very nice recording...gives the quivers on my spine.....(even tears ...lol)

[wienerfr]

I was there but I have got no device. This is the live radio recording. I'll be there too for Cesare and Rinaldo.

[hillevifan]

Dear god this is so replendant.. her voice gels perfectly with the orchestra and she really savors Handel's fluid lines...