"Io le diro"/"Tu le dirai" (Rasmussen, Hallenberg, "Serse")

From Handel's serio-comic opera, "Serse": American mezzo-soprano Paula Rasmussen as King Serse sings "Io le diro che l'amo" (I'll tell her that I love her [myself]) followed by Arsamene (Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg) singing "Tu le dirai che l'ami" (You'll tell her that you love her). Arsamene is Serse's put-upon brother, Arsamene.

Serse has ordered Arsamene to inform Romilda of Serse's plans to wed her, but Arsamene balks, because unknown to Serse, Arsamene is actually Romilda's true love. The King can not be disappointed or displeased, however. Serse then tells Arsamene he'll just have to tell Romilda himself ("Io le diro"). When Serse leaves, Arsamene expresses his certainty that Romilda will reject Serse's offer to her to be his queen ("Tu le dirai"). Recitative and arias.

With Christophe Rousset directing Les Talens Lyriques.

From Dresden Musikfestspiele 2000.

If you like this, go buy the video and get the complete opera!

Also see "Per rendermi beato", "Crude furie", Duetto: "Troppo oltraggi", "Sì, la voglio e l'otterò!" and "Ombra mai fu".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Serse
• Arsamene
• Handel
• Rasmussen
• Hallenberg
• Rousset
• Talens
• Lyriques
• Dresden
• Semperoper

[hobo1975]

its unusual to find a good female voice these days without major faults,most so called female singers shout and dont actually sing.

ty.

[mariandelochs]

You're welcome. Would your remarks apply to Rasmussen (Serse), Hallenberg (Arsamene), or to both these mezzo-sopranos? I like both voices myself. Thanks for leaving a comment!

[smnole]

I love this opera & I must say, this ist really awesome!

Nice voices & whole interpretation is cool...

[mariandelochs]

Oh, yes! I love this version of 'Serse', too! Very cool dramatisation, indeed! Thanks for the comment. Hope you got to check out the other clips I've put up, too. Best regards!

[vivaciousmuse]

BELLISIMA, BELLISIMA!!!!!

[Cissy97]

It is indeed VERY rare to have a baroque mezzo in the calibre as Ann Hallenberg.

YET, Paula Rasmussen virtually lost NOT a single inch to her in terms of vocal capability. Truly amazing!

What a pair of 'brothers'!

[Cissy97]

It is rare nowadays for two mezzo sopranos to sing two lead roles with the recent upsurge of countertenors.

Yet, I have not seen a couple of countertenors doing Serse on stage.

[Cissy97]

This is very effective. Bravo!

[Cissy97]

This is very effective. Bravo!

[edysonurieldiaz]

bellisima la opera y la mezzo

[JaRoWi1647]

In that good old time "unnaturally tall " for  a man were already 180 cm ....he he... Today it would be quite OK .;-)

[TFreckle]

He probably was. Castrates were quite "deform" because their growth was horribly altered by their castration.

They were unnaturrally tall, had huge chests and very narrow legs. Also, their heads looked very small.

[JaRoWi1647]

Wow....the both  "youths" are really awesome! What a perfect baroque deception! But I think, Don Gaetano Majorano (Caffarelli), Serse in the first cast, was a little bit taller than m-me Rasmussen.;-)

Thanks for posting!

[SeanMinn]

Very pretty king indeed.

Very pretty pince too...