Opera title: | Alcina |
Composer: | Georg Handel |
Language: | Italian |
Synopsis: | Alcina Synopsis |
Libretto: | Alcina Libretto |
Translation(s): | English |
Type: | aria |
Role(s): | Ruggiero |
Voice(s): | Mezzo-Soprano |
Act: | 2.19 |
| Previous scene: | Ed e ver che mi narri |
| Next scene: | Ah! Ruggiero crudel |
Orchestra: Freiburger Barockorchester
Chorus: MusicAeterna (Chorus of the Perm Opera)
Choral direction: Vitaly Polonsly
Philippe Jaroussky as Ruggiero is in thrall to Patricia Petibon as the sorceress Alcina in Katie Mitchell’s virtuosic production of Handel’s opera from the 2015 Aix-en-Provence Festival, described by Bachtrack as “a night of a thousand delightsâ€. Conducted by Andrea Marcon, this was, in the words of Opera News, “musically … a performance of the highest festival levelâ€.
Alcina, one of Handel’s most popular operas, is named after a dangerously seductive sorceress – soprano Patricia Petibon in this production from the 2015 Aix-en-Provence Festival; but perhaps the central figure is the bewitched warrior Ruggiero, performed here by Philippe Jaroussky. The role, which includes the haunting, lilting aria ‘Verdi prati’, was composed for the celebrated countertenor Giovanni Carestini, who provided the focus for Jaroussky’s superb 2007 album of arias by Handel, Hasse, Porpora, Leo and Gluck.
RUGGIERO
Verdi prati, selve amene,
perderete la beltà.
Vaghi fior, correnti rivi,
la vaghezza, la bellezza,
presto in voi si cangerà.
Versi prati, selve amene,
perderete la beltà.
E cangiato il vago oggetto,
all'orror del primo aspetto
tutto in voi ritornerà.
RUGGIERO
Green meadows, pleasant woods,
You will lose your beauty,
Pretty flowers, flowing waters,
your beauty will quickly change.
Green meadows, pleasant woods,
You will lose your beauty.
And when the beloved vision will fade,
everything will change
into the former horrible appearance.
Translation by: Aldo Boninsegna
| Sheetmusic for aria | |
| Sheetmusic for opera | |
| MP3's for this aria | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |