Al lampo dell armi

The Precision!!!

Just follow the notes if you can to see how amazingly precise he is in executing those melismas.. Whew!! I got dizzy making the video.. I had to pause before and after each measure over and over again and study every note and realized how scarily accurate this man is! Sorry for the sound quality though.. I had to convert the ape file to a wav file to be able to use it in the video, but unfortunately there was tremendous loss in the audio quality.. Too much treble, all bass is gone.. Violins sound like mosquitos, and Scholl sounds like he has a bad cold. Those who have the original album can tell you that he sounds as fresh as a spring rain.. Well, if I ever get a better equipment, I'll fix it.


George Frideric HAndel
Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17
"Al lampo dell'armi"
Act II, Scene 3

Libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, after Giacamo Francesco Bussani.
Opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto was first performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket, London, on 20th of February 1724 with legendary alto castrato Senesino (Francesco Bernardi) performing the title role, Francesca Cuzzoni as Cleopatra and the castrato Gaetano Berenstadt in the role of Ptolemy, or Tolomeo as he is called in the Italian libretto.

Al lampo dell'armi
quest'alma guerriera
vendetta farà.

Non fia che disarmi
la destra guerriera
che forza le da.

Translation (thanks to "dangerousmezzo")

In the shimmering of arms
This my warring soul
Will take revenge.

Whatever gives it its strength
Cannot disarm This fighting hand