Handel - Partenope "Furibondo spira il vento" Marilyn Horne. G. F. Handel (1685-1759) Partenope, HWV 27 Opera in Three Acts "Furibondo spira il vento" from the end of the 2nd Act. Libretto by: Silvio …More
Handel - Partenope "Furibondo spira il vento" Marilyn Horne.
G. F. Handel (1685-1759) Partenope, HWV 27 Opera in Three Acts "Furibondo spira il vento" from the end of the 2nd Act. Libretto by: Silvio Stampiglia Score: www.schubertline.co.uk/Scorchshop/cgi-bin/showscore.pl Premiere: King's Theatre, London, 24 February 1730 Characters Partenope (soprano) Rosmira (mezzo-soprano) Arsace (countertenor) Armindo (countertenor) Emilio (tenor) Ormonte (baritone) Original Cast in 1730: Partenope: Anna Maria Strada del Pò, soprano Rosmira: Antonia Maria Merighi, contralto Arsace: Antonio Maria Bernacchi, alto castrato Armindo: Francesca Bertolli, mezzo-soprano Emilio: Annibale Pio Fabri, tenor Ormonte: Johann Gottfried Riemschneider, basso Handel wrote Partenope in 1730, a time in his life when he was free to choose a wider range of librettos.It was Handel's first comic opera which broke away from the Opera Seria tradition and was rejected by the Royal Academy of Music because of its frivolous nature with relatively few extended arias and more recitative. The greatness he achieved in this decade is reflected in the virtuosity of this mad scene of Arsace. Arsace (originally written for an alto castrato) is one of three men who admire Partenope. She is the mythological Queen of Naples.. Arsace and Armindo are rivals for the love of Partenope, who loves Arsace. He, however, was formerly the lover of Rosmira, whom he recognises but whose identity he is pledged not to reveal. Rosmira, as Eurimene, also claims to be in love with Partenope. Emilio, under threat of war, joins the contest, but is rejected and attacks the city, defended under the command of Partenope, to settle potential jealousies among the princes. In battle with Emilio, Armindo saves Partenope and Arsace saves Rosmira, who creates further complications in her pursuit of Arsace, challenged to single combat. Matters are finally resolved, with Partenope united with Armindo, Rosmira, now revealed as a woman, united with Arsace and Emilio released to rule over Cuma as an ally of Partenope. Handel's Partenope is rich in musical interest, handling in traditional form a plot that has elements of comedy in it. Arsace's aria from the end of the second act, Furibondo spira il vento (Furiously breathes the wind), is sometimes heard in the concert-hall. Italian text: Furibondo spira il vento e sconvolge il cielo e il suol Tal adesso l'alma io sento Agitata dal mio duol English Translation: Furiously blows the winds and stirs the heavens and the earth. That is what I feel now in my soul agitated by my grief. Other Artists performed this role and/or aria: Mezzo Soprano/Alto: Nathalie Stutzmann, Giulietta Simionato Countertenors: Rene Jacobs, David Daniels, Kai Wessel, Lawrence Zazzo, Angelo Manzotti
G. F. Handel (1685-1759) Partenope, HWV 27 Opera in Three Acts "Furibondo spira il vento" from the end of the 2nd Act. Libretto by: Silvio Stampiglia Score: www.schubertline.co.uk/Scorchshop/cgi-bin/showscore.pl Premiere: King's Theatre, London, 24 February 1730 Characters Partenope (soprano) Rosmira (mezzo-soprano) Arsace (countertenor) Armindo (countertenor) Emilio (tenor) Ormonte (baritone) Original Cast in 1730: Partenope: Anna Maria Strada del Pò, soprano Rosmira: Antonia Maria Merighi, contralto Arsace: Antonio Maria Bernacchi, alto castrato Armindo: Francesca Bertolli, mezzo-soprano Emilio: Annibale Pio Fabri, tenor Ormonte: Johann Gottfried Riemschneider, basso Handel wrote Partenope in 1730, a time in his life when he was free to choose a wider range of librettos.It was Handel's first comic opera which broke away from the Opera Seria tradition and was rejected by the Royal Academy of Music because of its frivolous nature with relatively few extended arias and more recitative. The greatness he achieved in this decade is reflected in the virtuosity of this mad scene of Arsace. Arsace (originally written for an alto castrato) is one of three men who admire Partenope. She is the mythological Queen of Naples.. Arsace and Armindo are rivals for the love of Partenope, who loves Arsace. He, however, was formerly the lover of Rosmira, whom he recognises but whose identity he is pledged not to reveal. Rosmira, as Eurimene, also claims to be in love with Partenope. Emilio, under threat of war, joins the contest, but is rejected and attacks the city, defended under the command of Partenope, to settle potential jealousies among the princes. In battle with Emilio, Armindo saves Partenope and Arsace saves Rosmira, who creates further complications in her pursuit of Arsace, challenged to single combat. Matters are finally resolved, with Partenope united with Armindo, Rosmira, now revealed as a woman, united with Arsace and Emilio released to rule over Cuma as an ally of Partenope. Handel's Partenope is rich in musical interest, handling in traditional form a plot that has elements of comedy in it. Arsace's aria from the end of the second act, Furibondo spira il vento (Furiously breathes the wind), is sometimes heard in the concert-hall. Italian text: Furibondo spira il vento e sconvolge il cielo e il suol Tal adesso l'alma io sento Agitata dal mio duol English Translation: Furiously blows the winds and stirs the heavens and the earth. That is what I feel now in my soul agitated by my grief. Other Artists performed this role and/or aria: Mezzo Soprano/Alto: Nathalie Stutzmann, Giulietta Simionato Countertenors: Rene Jacobs, David Daniels, Kai Wessel, Lawrence Zazzo, Angelo Manzotti
The counter tenor does a more delicate and subtle interpretation of this piece than the mezzo soprano. In addition to this, Ms Horne's vowels are all wrong - too English and unexpressive. The Bel Canto production of the vowels at the "back of the throat" is frightfully difficult for the English speaker. This can be heard in this recording. Nevertheless, a most spiritous performance indeed. 