Handel - Partenope "Furibondo spira il vento" David Daniels

G. F. Handel (1685-1759)
Partenope, HWV 27
Opera in Three Acts

"Furibondo spira il vento"
from the end of the 2nd Act.
Libretto by: Silvio Stampiglia


Premiere: King's Theatre, London, 24 February 1730
Characters
Partenope (soprano)
Rosmira (mezzo-soprano)
Arsace (countertenor)
Armindo (countertenor)
Emilio (tenor)
Ormonte (baritone)


Original Cast in 1730:
Partenope: Anna Maria Strada del Pò, soprano
Rosmira: Antonia Maria Merighi, contralto
Arsace: Antonio Maria Bernacchi, alto castrato
Armindo: Francesca Bertolli, mezzo-soprano
Emilio: Annibale Pio Fabri, tenor
Ormonte: Johann Gottfried Riemschneider, basso


Handel wrote Partenope in 1730, a time in his life when he was free to choose a wider range of librettos.It was Handel's first comic opera which broke away from the Opera Seria tradition and was rejected by the Royal Academy of Music because of its frivolous nature with relatively few extended arias and more recitative. The greatness he achieved in this decade is reflected in the virtuosity of this mad scene of Arsace.

Arsace (originally written for an alto castrato) is one of three men who admire Partenope. She is the mythological Queen of Naples..

Arsace and Armindo are rivals for the love of Partenope, who loves Arsace. He, however, was formerly the lover of Rosmira, whom he recognises but whose identity he is pledged not to reveal. Rosmira, as Eurimene, also claims to be in love with Partenope. Emilio, under threat of war, joins the contest, but is rejected and attacks the city, defended under the command of Partenope, to settle potential jealousies among the princes. In battle with Emilio, Armindo saves Partenope and Arsace saves Rosmira, who creates further complications in her pursuit of Arsace, challenged to single combat. Matters are finally resolved, with Partenope united with Armindo, Rosmira, now revealed as a woman, united with Arsace and Emilio released to rule over Cuma as an ally of Partenope.

Handel's Partenope is rich in musical interest, handling in traditional form a plot that has elements of comedy in it. Arsace's aria from the end of the second act, Furibondo spira il vento (Furiously breathes the wind), is sometimes heard in the concert-hall.


Italian text:

Furibondo spira il vento
e sconvolge il cielo e il suol
Tal adesso l'alma io sento
Agitata dal mio duol


English Translation:

Furiously blows the winds
and stirs the heavens and the earth.
That is what I feel now in my soul
agitated by my grief.

Other Artists performed this role and/or aria:

Mezzo Soprano/Alto:
Marilyn Horne, Nathalie Stutzmann, Giulietta Simionato

Countertenors: Rene Jacobs,Kai Wessel, Lawrence Zazzo, Angelo Manzotti

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Frideric
• Handel
• Partenope
• Arsace
• Furibondo
• spira
• il
• vento
• David
• Daniels
• contertenor
• alto
• castrato
• baroque
• opera

[BaroqueFever]

Thanks for posting.

If someone is interested in more recordings of this aria, I've got a version with Philippe Jaroussky.

[civileso]

I sure am interested.. Thanks for your comment

[elias12186]

Im starting to love Handel.

[civileso]

It's never too late:)

[NedRorem]

The aria is in E minor. They're simply playing with the usual "baroque" tuning La=415 Hz

[mradaChris]

This is wonderful. The more and more I listen to DD the more I appreciate his voice! He is really good!

[euraznsf]

I love following the sheet music - it really adds wonder to the work we listen to.

[MisterPapageno]

PS I would have palyed more with the repetion of the A part :)

[Jeffbear1]

Wow....what a voice David Daniels has......simply awesome !! This is a great recording too.......

[amatorynumber]

@kvasir1814 well, actually he was singing Sesto at the beginning of his career. He is higher than many a countertenor... more a mezzo voice than anything else.

[gem1155]

Check out Nick Zammit Vivi tirrano

[hapes100]

war auch auf der bühne so fantastisch

[TrebleB4Mi]

Daniels is the CT equivalent in my mind to Bartoli a.k.a. the queen of agility. For a treat look up his duet with Bartoli "Scherzano sul tuo volto"... I want that played as I exit the chapel on my wedding day but only if it's sung by those two.