This is a clip from 1994 Belgian film "Farinelli". The music to be shared this week is "Lascia ch'io pianga" (from 3:00).
Before, I didn’t recognize Haendel as a great song writer until I saw the film “Farinelli”, a movie about the famous 18th century Italian Castrati Farinelli and his contradictory relationship with his brother and Haendel, which was precisely depicted by this aria. Farinelli’s voice was "reconstructed" by a mixture of counter-tenor and female soprano.
Lyrics in Italian
Lascia ch'io pianga
mia cruda sorte,
E che sospiri la libert?
E che sospiri,
e che sospiri la libert?
Lascia ch'io pianga
mia cruda sorte,
E che sospiri la libert?
Il duolo infranga
queste ritorte
de miei martiri
sol per piet?
de miei martiri
sol per piet?
Lascia ch'io pianga
mia cruda sorte,
E che sospiri la libert?
E che sospiri,
e che sospiri la libert?
Lascia ch'io pianga
mia cruda sorte,
E che sospiri la libert?
Lyrics translation in English
Let me weep over
my cruel fate,
And that I long for freedom!
And that I long,
and that I long for freedom!
Let me weep over
my cruel fate,
And that I long for freedom!
The duel infringes
these images
of my sufferings
I pray for mercy.
for my sufferances.
I pray for mercy.
Let me weep over
my cruel fate,
And that I long for freedom!
And that I long,
and that I long for freedom!
Let me weep over
my cruel fate,
And that I long for freedom!
This aria "Lascia ch'io pianga" was from Haendel’s first opera produced for London “Rinaldo”. At that time, the opera’s leading roles were performed by castrati, though later on this aria becomes a soprano’s or mezzo’s show piece.
I actually found the recording performed by the 19th century castrato Alessandro Moreschi in Youtube. The voice is beautiful with its ambiguity between female and male, child and adult. But it was scary to me because everything (the melody, the lyrics and the voice, together with the image of the singer on screen) became so sad!!! After all, castrato is really something “unnatural” since 19th century, in contrast to its popularity in 16-18th century for the unmatched voice in operas and church choir.
Now listen to French counter tenor’s performance.
Philippe Jaroussky "Lascia ch'io pianga" Rinaldo
The other version by Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená
This is a sentimental piece that nerves would shiver in the cold days.
Extended reading:
About “Farinelli”
Another beautiful and touching aria by JS Bach - Erbarme dich (Nr. 39 Aria from St. Matthew Passion)
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