Handel - Serse, HWV 40 "Ombra mai fu" Marilyn Horne

"Ombra mai fu"
from Serse/Xerxes, HWV40
by George Frideric Handel
libretto by Niccolò Minato

http://www.haendel.it/composizioni/libretti/pdf/serse.pdf

Score (without the recitative):

http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/e/e3/Han-omb.pdf

Premiere: London Haymarket Theatre on April 15, 1738

Premiere Cast:

(Conductor: - )
Serse (soprano castrato): Gaetano Majorano (Caffarelli)
Arsamene (alto): Maria Antonia Marchesini (La Lucchesina)
Amastre (contralto): Antonia Maria Merighi
Romilda (soprano): Elisabeth Duparc (La Francesina)
Atalanta (soprano): Margherita Chimenti (La Droghierina)
Ariodate (bass): Antonio Montagnana
Elviro (bass): Antonio Lottini

In this recording:

Marilyn Horne (Mezzo soprano)
I Solisti Veneti
Conductor: Claudio Scimone


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Serse (Xerxes, HWV40) is an opera seria by George Frideric Handel. The libretto is adapted by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia for an earlier opera of the same name by Giovanni Bononcini. Stampiglia's libretto was itself based on one by Nicolò Minato that was set by Francesco Cavalli in 1654.
Serse is considered Handel's most Mozartian opera, and one of his finest. Passion is mixed with farce and satire; the folly of human nature is exposed but never ridiculed. The opera is set in Persia in 480 BC and is very loosely based upon Xerxes I of Persia, though there is little in either the libretto or music that is relevant to that setting. Xerxes is a pants role; that is, it is a male role played by a mezzo-soprano.The opening aria, "Ombra mai fu", sung by Xerxes to a tree (Platanus orientalis), is set to one of Handel's best-known melodies, and is often played in an orchestral arrangement, known as Handel's "largo" (despite being marked "larghetto" in the score).
The opera was a commercial failure, lasting only five performances in London after its premiere. In the 19th century, however, the aria was rediscovered and became one of Handel's best-known pieces. It has often been arranged for other instruments, including solo organ, solo piano, violin and piano, and groups of strings, often with the full title "Largo from Xerxes." Handel adapted the aria from the setting by Bononcini who, in turn, adapted it from the setting by Francesco Cavalli. All three composers had produced settings of the same opera libretto by Niccolò Minato.

Original text:

Ombra mai fu
di vegetabile,
cara ed amabile,
soave più.

Translation:

Never was there made
a shade of a plant
dear and loving,
or more gentle.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Frideric
• Handel
• Serse
• Xerxes
• Ombra
• mai
• fu
• Marilyn
• Horne
• baroque
• opera

[marhar2]

Thanks so much for posting these. I really get a better feeling for all the parts, being able to follow along. I will use my little USB keyboard on my computer to play along sometime, which is a wonderful refreshing way to take a break from work.

Thanks again, it's such a great idea, you're wonderful to do it and it's much appreciated!!

[matavidya]

Very, very nice!

[kasha1932]

@kasha1932 I wish YOU TUBE would have given me time to proof read this horrible mess! I am sorry about it. And would have liked for it to be cancelled so I could re-write it. Oh well...I think you must get the jist of it anyway. BRAVA Maylin Horne!

[kasha1932]

Oh "Jackie"....it saddens me to know you are struggling with cancer....My prayers are with you each day that I hope to hear from you. Last letter was written to California...#5. Your voice is absolutley supreme! And m if you nevaer see what i've written, all you havae to do is dia up YOU TUBE, and you will see what a great admirere I am and havae been for a long time. BRAVA, Marylin...May the Lord keep you and bless you...whereever you happen to be.BRAVA!!!!

[yasuo25337]

I love this.......................I'v­e heard that you may listen to its sound through the ears.

[keydet72]

I preferred Janet Baker's rendition, but it was pulled for God knows what reason. Such a loss!

[reviewsvoiceontube]

In every aspect to consider with this Haendel aria-to me- the most complete rendition of Ombra mai fu-even though many other greats that I`ve heard.

[grnslvs7]

C'est la meilleur intrepretation que j'ais entendu, (personel)

[BurnElectric]

full, strong voice, but i hate it when singers use vibrato on every single damn note

[marchesedecoccibus]

FA maggiore...ma nella testa me lo figuro sempre in Sol, non so perché ^^

Profondissima interpretazione, quasi "austera": preferisco l'ineffabile, ferma levità della Bartoli

[jhb134]

@AmatureComposer - If a certain aria is more-comfortable, in a lower key, for a great voice ... then why not? Some of the notes, here, are not perfect ... but it's nice to have yet-another fine version of this very-spiritual aria. Kathleen Ferrier had a TRULY-great version, and there are others, with great male voices.

[Taenyr]

@AmatureComposer Agreed. Sheet music in E-flat major (the key of this particular recording), though possibly rarer than F-major (original key), is readily available.