Siam navi all onde algenti

Singing falsetto soprano is very difficult and unusual. Although the resulting sound can be rather constrained and hard-edged, the male timbre and clean sound contrasts greatly with the sound of a females voice. The sound of sopranist Aris Christofellis is an acquired taste; however, his precise and agile technique is astonishing in this aria with its rapid notes, leaps, and long gymnastic lines. Vivaldi obviously wrote it to show off the astonishing castrato voice.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) : Siam navi allonde algenti, from LOlimpiade.

Siam navi allonde algenti
lasciate in abbandono
impetuosi venti I nostri affreti sono,
ogni diletto e scoglio,
tutta la vita un mar.
Ben qual nocchiero in noi
veglia ragion ma poi
pur dalondoso orgoglio
si lascia trasportar.

We are like ships on the silver waves,
drifting out of control;
like capricious winds are our affections,
every pleasure is a rock,
the whole of life a sea.
Like a steersman, reason
keeps good watch over us, but then
on the swell of pride
we let ourselves be carried away.