Händel: Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori (Aci, Galatea e Polifemo) - Corréas (Haïm)

'Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori' (Polifemo)

Aria in E-flat major for bass, 2 violins, viola and basso continuo

From the serenata (or dramatic cantata) 'Aci, Galatea e Polifemo', HWV 72 (No. 12)

Libretto: Nicola Giuvo (1680-1748)

Music: Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)

First performance: 19 July 1708 in Naples (Palace of the Duke of Alvito, Chiaia)
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Polifemo: Jérôme Corréas, bass-baritone

Le Concert d'Astrée,
conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm

Concert: 12 June 2003 in Caen (Théâtre)

Pitch: A = 415 Hz
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Italian text:

POLIFEMO
Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori
farfalla confusa
già spenta la face
non sa mai goder.

Così fra timori
quest'alma delusa
non trova mai pace
né spera piacer.
___

English translation (by Avril Bardoni):

POLYPHEMUS
In darkness and fear
a bewildered moth,
the lamp now extinguished,
can play no more.

So, beset by fears,
my deluded soul
will never find peace
nor can hope for pleasure.
___

Marc D.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• George Frideric Handel
• Fra l'ombre
• Aci Galatea e Polifemo
• Jerome Correas
• Emmanuelle Haim

[Agorante]

@Agorante I figured it out. Nearly three hundred years ago key signatures were not quite what they are today. As published and with the modern tunings this aria is nearly impossible. But it becomes quite possible if you just take it down a half step. That makes the sustained bottom notes into simple D naturals with only one brief Low C. That's basically the tessitura of Osmin. The crazy but very short high notes also become reachable in full modal voice. I will post it in A soon.

[Agorante]

@jgparton I don't quite understand this. How is it in E Flat not B Flat? Nor do I understand comments on Baroque tunings. Can I get a reference on these points?



[Agorante]

I just heard of this aria ten minutes ago. Some stranger asked me to record it an post it. OK! Will do, ASAP.

This is certainly a challenging aria but easy in the sense that it does't have any fast coloratura like the English Polythemus or high pianissimi. Or does it? A couple of the singers just go into falsetto for the high notes. Most of these singer also don't get very much on the low notes.

There are many choices to be made. I'll try to post my version by the New Year.

[Jextxadore]

@Arsamenes1 There are arias (especially from the Baroque period) go lower than a D2. I don't think there're a lot, but they exist. Osmin's role is just one of those people compare with.

If we're talking about bass music in general, there're a few songs that go to G1. I believe Yuri Wichniakov's recording of "Evening Bells" goes to E1 or Eb1.

[MehdiCapsI]

@jgparton You are right. Corrected. I did not get distracted by the two flats, since I know that in Baroque music, the extra flat is added in the score where necessary, and this is very clearly in E-flat major. It was probably a typo. Thanks.

[Arsamenes1]

With this range of voice, the singer is really blessed!

[Arsamenes1]

I once read, that the aria of Osmin "O wie will ich triumphieren" in Mozarts "Entführung aus dem Serail" is the lowest bass-aria ever written. But concerning the fact, that this one is sung in 415 Hz so a minor second lower, this one is lower or let's say they are at least equal.

[jgparton]

Just to clarify one very minor point; the score may be in two flats, but the key of the work is in fact E flat, not B flat.