Sibillar gli angui d'Aletto

Sibillar gli angui d'Aletto from Rinaldo (HWV 7), 1711
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Gerald Finley as Argante
The Academy of Ancient Music under Christopher Hogwood

Rinaldo was first performed at the Queen’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket on February 24, 1711. It was Handel's first Italian opera written specifically for the London stage. The role of Argante was premiered by Italian bass Giuseppe Maria Boschi (fl. 1698–1744), while his wife, contralto Francesca Vanini-Boschi, sang the role of Goffredo.

Handel wrote Rinaldo very quickly, but the speed of composition was aided by his inclusion of arias and other numbers from his earlier Italian works, among them this aria taken (though slightly modified) from the dramatic cantata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo.

Sibillar gli angui d'Aletto,
e latrar vorace Scilla,
parmi udir d'intorno a me.
 
Rio velen mi serpe in petto,
né ancor languida favilla
di timor, pena mi diè.

All around I seem to hear
the hissing of Alecto's serpents,
and the barking of hungry Scylla.

An evil poison creeps into my breast,
and has stung me
with the dull spark of fear.
[Translation by Kenneth Chalmers]
 
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Art in the video from the Crusader Bible: