Handel - Serse "Ombra mai fu" Maureen Forrester

George Frideric Handel

Serse/Xerxes, HWV40
"Ombra mai fu"

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:

Maureen Forrester (Alto)
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Brian Priestman


In part 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:

Frondi tenere e belle
del mio platano amato,
per voi risplenda il fato.
Tuoni, lampi, e procelle
non v'oltraggino mai la cara pace,
né giunga a profanarvi
austro rapace.

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

Translation:

Kind and lovely branches
of my beloved plane-tree,
Fate smiles for you.
May thunder, lightning and tempest
never shock your dear peace,
nor the rapacious south wind
come to violate you!

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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Frideric
• Handel
• Serse
• Ombra
• mai
• fu
• Maureen
• Forrester
• alto
• baroque
• classical

[gerardsatamian]

Maureen Forrester's death doesn't make the headlines but Lindsy Lohan's latest stupidity does. This world must be coming to an end!

[NilWrenn]

C'est si beau! Je ne connaissais pas Maureen Forrester, je suis tombé dessus en cherchant les lieder de Gustav Mahler. Je l'ai trouvée sublime dans Urlicht.

It is absolutely fantastic. I didn't know Maureen Forrester before. I came across her while looking for some lieders by Gustav Malher, I find her absolutely incredible.

Je ne connaissais pas Ombra mai fu non plus, donc, tous mes remerciements pour l'avoir postée.

See You!

[musicloversingable]

The most beautiful rendition of this aria I have ever heard. It makes the efforts of the early music crowd seem distorted and absurd. Truly one of the most gorgeous contralto voices ever heard.

[sdegrace]

La meilleure que j'aie entendue à ce jour.

[7inga7]

I loved her and heard her here in Chicago many times.

[Darkbunny1890]

mmmm babana <3

[MrAbellink]

Just amazing!

[DCFunBud]

Magnificent!  R.I.P., Maureen Forrester.

[crockogold]

a magnificent version of a marbellous piece of music

[BoggiD101]

@gerardsatamian Don't fret too much. The world has always been like this, even during the times of Handel, Bach and Beethoven.

[patukott]

That accompaniment is breathtaking. And, what high notes !