"Sta nell'Ircana pietrosa tana" (Handel's Alcina) - Vivica Genaux

"Sta nellIrcana pietrosa tana" (Ruggiero)

Handels Alcina (1735)

Vivica Genaux

Les Violons du Roy
Bernard Labadie

Alcina (HWV 34)
First performed April 16, 1735
Covent Garden Theatre, London

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcina


In the role of Ruggiero was
Giovanni Carestini, (1705 - 1760)
called "Cusanino" (mezzosoprano-castrato)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Carestini

Libretto after Riccardo Broschi's L'Isola d'Alcina, 1728, from Ludovico Ariosto's, Orlando furioso.

"Sta nellIrcana pietrosa tana
tigre sdegnosa, e incerta pende,
se parte, o attende
il cacciator.

Dal teso strale
guardar si vuole;
ma poi la prole
lascia in periglio.
Freme e lassale
desio di sangue,
pietà del figlio;
poi vince amor."
(Parte in fretta.)


"In her rocky Hycanian lair
the angry tigress lurks,
uncertain whether to escape
or await the hunter.

From the strung arrow
she would protect herself,
but that would leave her young
exposed to danger.
She shudders, assailed
by lust for blood
and fear for her family;
then love proves stronger."
(He hurries away.)


ART from various artists.

Information can be found here:

http://www.the-gallery-of-china.com/chinese-tiger-painting.html

http://www.chinesepaintings.com/chinese-tiger-paintings.html

Available from Virgin Classics

http://www.amazon.com/Vivica-Genaux-Handel-Hasse-Opera/dp/B000CEBOTU/ref=sr_1...

http://www.vivicagenaux.com/

"Genaux is simply unsurpassed as an interpreter of this repertoire, and her vocal credentials are unassailable." (David Vernier, Classics Today)

"Bernard Labadie and his orchestra light a fire that both illuminates and energizes her equally-scintillating vocal lines." (David Vernier, Classics Today)

"Sta nellIrcana pietrosa tana from Alcina is another display aria. Handel sets the rather conventional simile text with brilliant music that here shows Genaux off to her best: not only the brilliance of her voice, but the gripping excitement of her performance." (Robert Hugill -- MusicWeb International)

"Genaux delivers the thrilling aria "Sta nell'Ircana" from Alcina with flamboyant bravado, egged on by the swaggering horns of the crack Canadian band." (Richard Wigmore, Telegraph.co.uk)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Handel
• Alcina
• Genaux
• Labadie
• Ruggiero

[jdstivers]

Thanks, Lindsey.

[wichmannsburg]

...... and such a beuatiful da capo ! Bravissimo !

[wichmannsburg]

Of all "sta nell'ircana" versions on youtube I definitely prefer this one: brilliant orchestra playing together with Vivica Genaux's strong, powerful voice - marvellous ! Thank you very much !

[bighairlindsey]

Great job, Jeffrey! The pictures that you put in are beautiful :)