Handel - Rodelinda "Io t'abbraccio" R. Fleming & A. Scholl

As an example of what NOT to do when singing a Handel duet... I wonder what she was thinking :)

G.F.Handel
"Io t'abbraccio"
Rodelinda, re de' Longobardi, HWV 19
Duetto di Rodelinda e Bertarido, end of act II

In this recording:

Renée Fleming
Andreas Scholl

Conductor: Patrick Summers
New York, Metropolitan Opera (live)


"Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi" (HWV 19) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was based on a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, in turn based on an earlier libretto by Antonio Salvi. Salvi's libretto originated with Pierre Corneille's play "Pertharite, roi des Lombards".

It was first performed at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, London, on 13 February 1725. It was produced with the same singers as Tamerlano. There were 14 performances and it was repeated on 18 December 1725, and again on 4 May 1731. It was also performed in Hamburg. The first modern production was in Göttingen on 26 June 1920.


Premiere Cast, February 13, 1725
(Conductor: - )
Rodelinda, Queen of Longobardi: (soprano) Francesca Cuzzoni
Bertarido, King of Longobardi: (alto castrato) Senesino
Grimoaldo, Duke of Benevento: (tenor) Francesco Borosini
Eduige, Bertarido's sister: (alto) Anna Vicenza Dotti
Unulfo, Bertarido's friend and counsellor: (alto castrato) Andrea Pacini
Garibaldo, Grimoaldo's counsellor, duke of Turin: (bass) Giuseppe Maria Boschi

Synopsis:

Grimoaldo has usurped Bertarido in battle, who has fled. It is believed that Bertarido has died in exile, but he sends word to his friend Unulfo that he is alive and in hiding near the palace. Rodelinda and her son, Flavio, are being kept in the palace by Grimoaldo, who has fallen in love with her.


Original text:

RODELINDA e BERTARIDO
Io t'abbraccio.
E più che morte, aspro e forte,
è pel cor mio questo addio,
che il tuo sen dal mio divide.

Ah mia vita!
Ah mio tesoro! se non moro,
è più tiranno quell'affanno,
che dà morte, e non uccide.

Translation (by Kenneth Chalmers):

I embrace you.
And more bitter and harsh than death
to my heart is this farewell
which tears us apart.

Ah, my life!
Ah, my treasure! If I do not die,
then how cruel is that distress
which brings death, but does not kill.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George
• Frideric
• Handel
• Io
• t'abbraccio
• Renee
• Fleming
• Andreas
• Scholl
• Rodelinda
• Bertarido
• baroque

[civileso]

@skitzo429 As long as you don't like Baroque music and find it boring, you have no opinion to offer me on how it should be sung or if it is in style or not. Just because I love this music and don't find Renee's singing fit for it, and that you love Renee unconditionally, doesn't mean that you can come here and call me pretentious or question my education.

[civileso]

@skitzo429 Excuse me, but no matter what you call me, I see no "interest" in frantic screaming. She is unacceptably over the top. Not to mention that this is the least "boring" moment of this glorious work of art. What baffles me more than what la Renee did there is to see so-called music lovers finding a Baroque music masterpiece boring rather than blaspheming by admitting the out-of-style over-the-top-ness of a diva. I'd say Handel would defenestrate her. See: watch?v=sk7Zs-L2Nro

[skitzo429]

@MehdiCapsI Most people dont regard Bach as a pristine composer for the voice, I like Mozart, but sometimes its a little bouncy for me. The bel canto, however, I love and know the rep inside out.

[skitzo429]

@MehdiCapsI Well thats another issue, I've never professed the historically informed performance authenticity of this performance, I just like it. I just dont think handel is very interesting.

[MehdiCapsI]

@skitzo429 I should have added "and/or anyone who does not know much about historically informed performance of Baroque music". As for Händel, how can you not admire the guy, if you are a composer? Arias like "Ombra cara" are real tours de force (especially the chromatic accompaniment), and late arias like "As with rosy" were unmatched in his time, totally new and are still incredibly natural. There was no one better than him in the 18th century, and this includes Bach and Mozart.

[civileso]

@skitzo429 I'm glad you are. It was my goal.

[civileso]

@skitzo429 There are many comments by people who say they like this performance under this video none of which got any reaction from me. You did, not because you liked it or because you don't like Handel but because you called me pretentious and possibly a troll with Wikipedia education only because I told my opinion. If this is what you call voicing your opinion, I would only shove it down your throat. You're one of those "freedom of speech gone wrong" guys from the US aren't you?

[MehdiCapsI]

@skitzo429 Then do not start with calling them names, and they will have more respect for your differing opinion.

[skitzo429]

@MehdiCapsI Did i mention that you dont know anything about me?

[skitzo429]

@MehdiCapsI Im a composer myself, thank you. You're making very broad subjective statements, plenty of people don't like Handel, it doesnt mean I dont know what Im talking about just because I think most Handel is boring. Similarly, your opinion of fleming is not universal truth, "everyone who is not one of her blind fans can see that" is pretentious and ignorant, Im not a blind fan, I just like this performance, thats where all of this stemmed from, I said that and some "experts" disagreed.

[skitzo429]

@civileso That was probably the first thing I posted in response to you, before you clarified that you knew what you were talking about. Im kind of sick of this, bye

[skitzo429]

@MehdiCapsI Of course they can, Ive never claimed the contrary, I don't like people telling me I'm wrong and dont know what I'm talking about just because I disagree with their opinions.