Verdi prati was written for Giovanni Carestini, an alto castrato who started out a soprano, when Handel sent him the aria to learn, Carestini sent it back saying he would not sing it as he thought it unworthy, whereupon Handel took his carriage to Carestini's digs and demanded that he sing it or else he would withhold his fee, Carestini then complied. The above scene is set at the entrance of the Royal garden with a statue of Circe (who turned shipwrecked sailors into swine in the Odyssey) Alcina is either a follower of Circe or another name for her, this scene should only have Ruggeriero and Bradamante, the stage directions indicated Morgana has exited already, so they seem to have got it wrong. I should say that there is a considerable static, almost tableaux element in staging baroque opera, especially Handel, gestures are very important, the La Monnaie production directed by Christoph Rousset with Maite Beaumont here is closer to what Handel expected, they also try to keep it 18th Century - although it could be set any time as long as they follow the stage directions and keep the gestures simple. Handel did not have elaborate sets, the Pinnock Tamerlano shows what it was like then. It is true a countertenor can sing an alto castrato role, but the voice is falsetto, Maite Beaumont a mezzo sings it more naturally and in my opinion closer to its meaning..
carestini was never an alto castrato. In fact, this opera is listed as Ruggiero being a soprano role. I know Carestini started as a higher soprano but later he was rather a low soprano but never an alto. (Mezzo-soprano I would say). Still, Ruggiero is a soprano role.
I saw Alcina in Bolshoi theatre in 2017, same staging by Katie Mitchell but David Hansen sang the leading part . Jarousski is way better. Much more moving voice. And I admire this modern interpretation. It is fantastic and so talented. You have to see it whole to do it justice.
I so love this aria....and I agree completely with the comment below. I, too, cannot bear to look at these awful modern stagings. Such an insult to Handel.
I globally liked the clever staging of Alcina by Katie Mitchell, but this aria should be contemplative (it's Ruggiero who reflects on the soon-to-be lost beauty of Alcina's island) and not the place to move the plot forward, so that's kind of a miss for me. Musically it's quite fine but I prefer a more fluid rendition of the orchestra and Jaroussky forces his voice slightly too much in some points.
Jaroussky is an elegant singer and does quite well here, but as so often in our time, the production detracts from Handel's music. I can listen, but I can't watch. I hate the way these operas that have survived due to their timeless beauty and truth are subjected to such trivializing in the name of "reinterpretation."
Agreed. I have a special pet peeve about the proliferation of guns and military uniforms in modern stagings of Handel's operas. Totally out of place, and done so many times now that one grows weary of it.
Apologies all -- it's lovely but the tone color is wrong for the character and the situation in the opera. I hear seraphic beatitude not resigned sadness & regret.
@@francescorovatti4908 , i sopranisti e i contraltisti sono di natura inespressivi e Jarussky e' tra i peggiori con Orlinsky...sappiamo come va a finire.
A beautiful memory of a great evening in Aix...fantastic director's work. And a sublime cast.
Just listening, over and over. It`s so beautiful.
Bellísima aria y la interpretación de P.Jaroussky es un deleite para los oídos, la música de esta ópera es un rebalse de pura belleza
I love this interpretation. Philippe has a way of bringing out the deep emotions with his voice
Wonderfulll voice!!! Really touches inside my heart..
Verdi prati was written for Giovanni Carestini, an alto castrato who started out a soprano, when Handel sent him the aria to learn, Carestini sent it back saying he would not sing it as he thought it unworthy, whereupon Handel took his carriage to Carestini's digs and demanded that he sing it or else he would withhold his fee, Carestini then complied. The above scene is set at the entrance of the Royal garden with a statue of Circe (who turned shipwrecked sailors into swine in the Odyssey) Alcina is either a follower of Circe or another name for her, this scene should only have Ruggeriero and Bradamante, the stage directions indicated Morgana has exited already, so they seem to have got it wrong. I should say that there is a considerable static, almost tableaux element in staging baroque opera, especially Handel, gestures are very important, the La Monnaie production directed by Christoph Rousset with Maite Beaumont here is closer to what Handel expected, they also try to keep it 18th Century - although it could be set any time as long as they follow the stage directions and keep the gestures simple. Handel did not have elaborate sets, the Pinnock Tamerlano shows what it was like then. It is true a countertenor can sing an alto castrato role, but the voice is falsetto, Maite Beaumont a mezzo sings it more naturally and in my opinion closer to its meaning..
cadogan west Thank you for my lesson about Her Handel.
Certo, il propio Jaroussky parla di questo, al concerto di Versalles del anno 2011, Philippe Jaroussky in Versailles 1:24:00
carestini was never an alto castrato. In fact, this opera is listed as Ruggiero being a soprano role. I know Carestini started as a higher soprano but later he was rather a low soprano but never an alto. (Mezzo-soprano I would say). Still, Ruggiero is a soprano role.
I agree with Erin Matthiessen....I adore baroque....Haendel....but cannot STAND these modern productions. Jaroussky is wonderful here, as always.
Absolument magnifique !❤
Bravissimo, Philippe! One of my favourite Händel arias at all!!!
shivering ... marvelous performing .. and Handel at his best ..
I saw Alcina in Bolshoi theatre in 2017, same staging by Katie Mitchell but David Hansen sang the leading part . Jarousski is way better. Much more moving voice.
And I admire this modern interpretation. It is fantastic and so talented. You have to see it whole to do it justice.
so touching "Gänsehautgefühl"!
Wow! It sounds 1000% beautiful, authentic or not
Quelle merveille de délicatesse et de pureté ! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Beautiful 😍😍😍
Unglaubliche Stimme 🎉
I so love this aria....and I agree completely with the comment below. I, too, cannot bear to look at these awful modern stagings. Such an insult to Handel.
I globally liked the clever staging of Alcina by Katie Mitchell, but this aria should be contemplative (it's Ruggiero who reflects on the soon-to-be lost beauty of Alcina's island) and not the place to move the plot forward, so that's kind of a miss for me. Musically it's quite fine but I prefer a more fluid rendition of the orchestra and Jaroussky forces his voice slightly too much in some points.
philippe jarrouski toujours merveilleux dans une mise en scène immorale malheureusement .
chant de aude
Очень красивая опера💖
Pure skill and talent.
Jaroussky is an elegant singer and does quite well here, but as so often in our time, the production detracts from Handel's music. I can listen, but I can't watch. I hate the way these operas that have survived due to their timeless beauty and truth are subjected to such trivializing in the name of "reinterpretation."
Agreed. I have a special pet peeve about the proliferation of guns and military uniforms in modern stagings of Handel's operas. Totally out of place, and done so many times now that one grows weary of it.
you have absolutely right
Absolutely....couldn't agree with you more....I think Mr. Haendel would be very, very displeased.
How does this reinterpretation trivialize the original exactly?
totally agree. i looked away too.
I think I'm going to die after this magnificent performance of Verdi Prati. No words to describe my feelings after this erotic performance.
MUITO BELO !!!
BELA!!!
Apologies all -- it's lovely but the tone color is wrong for the character and the situation in the opera. I hear seraphic beatitude not resigned sadness & regret.
quede loca
exuseme, what the name oficina the opera
I suppose you're asking the name of the opera: it is Alcina, by Händel
This is jarrouski but not Handel.
To my taste the performance of that aria sung by Bryn Terfel is much better !
PSOE version.
Vcc47)
G
Je a
Abbastanza ridicolo, voce fissa...
Aspettiamo la sua interpretazione
@@francescorovatti4908 , i sopranisti e i contraltisti sono di natura inespressivi e Jarussky e' tra i peggiori con Orlinsky...sappiamo come va a finire.
Boo. Transposed.