Georg Frideric Handel - Giulio Cesare in Egitto - "Va tacito e nascosto" (Walter Berry)

As a point of interest, I'm uploading two pieces (one of them - in two versions) from "Giulio Cesare", connected by the fact that they could be considered (and, basically, are) the wrong representation of the work, in spite of the musical merits of the singers involved. First, Sesto's brilliant oath of vengeance to his father, here sung by a tenor, Fritz Wunderlich (rather wonderfully sung), though this decision seems to be backed up by historic precedences, in German, which is not exactly a part of the tradition. And, secondly, the title hero's symbolic "Va tacito e nascosto", presented in two versions, the first one - as sung by a bass, Walter Berry (interestingly he treats the piece in a way that makes it sound as if Caesar is making conversation with Tolomeo), again in German; the other one - as sung by a baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (in some ways, despite the travesty that such a decision involves, I prefer a lower male voice for the part of Caesar, as it makes the role a bit more believable as a a master of the world), though this rendition is sung as written in Italian.

Hope you'll enjoy :)!

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[Freyashawk]

Thank you so much! I was introduced to this opera in a version that featured Norman Treigle as Caesar and thus, despite a lifelong love of Handel, I am partial to the part of Caesar as sung by a baritone, however this changes the composer's original intention. I too love Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and there are few singers as exquisite as Fritz Wunderlich.

[limacorreia]

A imagem nao tem nada a ver com a musica!!!! O nome desta opera é "Julio Cesar no Egito" e não na Galia, como insinua a imagem acima.

[chickering435]

There are probably in Baroque tuning which is A=415 HZ. A half step down from modern day tuning.

[stefanharas]

......my favourite.....sounds bit like Prey;)

[Vladimirbukolic]

For me it sounds a little bit flat.

[asisecanta]

Va tacitto e nascosto... ma va in freta!!! :-)))

[mauricedelacroix]

I agree with LindoroRossini.

As a suggestion I would recomend Theo Adam making this role. Perfect.

And as the preference for lower voices, I agree too.

Although i think coutertenor is a wonderful voice for certain roles.

Very used in Haendel repertoir.

[neuefreiheit]

interesting tempo- i like it

and Walter Berry is a very good singer!

cool

[BayAreaBiker2001]

This is the first time I've heard this aria in German. I've always heard it in Italian. The tempo seems very fast.