Ombra cara di mia sposa (Handel's Radamisto) - Joyce DiDonato

Ombra cara di mia sposa

from Handel's opera
Radamisto (1720)

Joyce DiDonato
Il Complesso Barocco
Alan Curtis

RADAMISTO:

Ombra cara di mia sposa,
deh, riposa
e lieta aspetta
la vendetta che farò.

E poi tosto, ove tu stai
mi vedrai
venire a volo
e fedel tabbraccerò.

[Dear shade of my wife,
ah, be at peace
and joyfully await
the revenge I shall take.

Then soon after, you will see me
hastening to you
wherever you are,
and, ever faithful, I shall embrace you.]

OPERA TRIVIA:

The role of Radamisto was created by/for Margherita Durastanti, but in a revival of the opera in 1721 the famous castrato Senesino assumed the tile role, and it was the first of many great Handel roles he would sing.

In this second version of the opera, the role of Zenobia, wife of Radamisto, was now played by Durastanti, a soprano. (In the first version Zenobia was a contralto).

Durastanti was one of Handel's most versatile singers, and she sang several great Handel roles. In addition to Radamisto, she was Agrippina and Sesto in Giulio Cesare. Clearly, she inspired some of Handel's best music.

CD available from Virgin Classics:

http://www.amazon.com/Handel-Radamisto-George-Frideric/dp/B000B668ZE/ref=sr_1...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radamisto_(Handel)

http://www.joycedidonato.com/

Art by Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques-Louis_David

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ombra
• cara
• di
• mia
• sposa
• Joyce
• DiDonato

[gagips20]

Why Paresman is named as a king of Trace??? In reality he was a King of Iberia (eastern Georgia) and Radamisto was a prince and future King of Iberia. During some period Radamist was king of Armenia also. Maybe the composer was mistaken when he wrote the scenario?

[jdstivers]

@gagips20 It wasn't the composer who wrote the scenario. The libretto was written by Nicola Francesco Haym and was based on "L'amor tirannico, o Zenobia" by Domenico Lalli and "Zenobia" by Matteo Noris.

The basis of the story is a passage in Tacitus's Annals of Imperial Rome (xii.51), describing an incident in Asia Minor around AD 51.

Generally for Handel when dealing with historical characters, the actual events are much less important than the emotional responses of the characters.

[achantus1]

The painting is by David, right? And yes, Charlotte Courday was a true heroine! Ombra cara as well as Cara sposa from Rinaldo was, according to what I have read Händel's own favorite songs.

[jdstivers]

@achantus1 Yes, the painter is Jacques-Louis David. I included that information in the video description.

[gagips20]

@jdstivers Ok now I understand for him emotional responses is main in this opera;) This is very nice opera i liked it I have discovered it 1 week ago I had no idea that this opera exists. Thanks to Handel, i would like to see this opera here in Georgia if here will be played ever :(((

[achantus1]

The painting is by David, right? And yes, Charlotte Courday was a true heroine!

[michelle69781]

Very beautiful! thanks!

[acerb45666555]

6:36..........Viva Charlotte Courday! the squisher of the great tyrant Marat!

[emacasta]

So beautiful music and painting! Thanks for this posting.