"Ombra mai fu"

A little while ago on the radio we heard the "Largo" from Handel's opera "Xerxes", the all-instrumental arrangement of the opening aria of the opera, called "Ombra Mai Fu" ("Never has there been a shade"). It's a love song sung by the main character to the tree under which he sits, enjoying its shade. The idea is silly but the music is beautiful; fortunately, it's usually sung in its original Italian.

Listening to countertenor Andreas Scholl sing "Ombra mai fu" may be the most beautiful musical experience I know. Scholl (about; Andreas Scholl Society) has for some years been my favorite countertenor, possibly ever since I first heard him sing this aria. His voice thrills me with its purity of tone, its expressivity, and its very well-controlled vibrato.

He has recorded this aria several times. Here is one performance:




I don't think it helps particularly to know the words, but here they are (source):

Ombra mai fu
di vegetabile,
cara ed amabile,
soave più.

Never was there made
a shade of a plant
dear and loving,
or more gentle.

Now, Scholl is not the only countertenor working today, and there are several who are very good. If it were not for Scholl, American David Daniels would be my top favorite countertenor rather than a very close second. Daniels, too, has an outstanding voice and he has been making a name for himself performing heroic roles in Baroque operas.

There is no harm in comparison. Hear how beautifully, yet differently from Scholl, Daniel's performs "Ombra mai fu":



Posted on March 14, 2008 at 20.44 by jns · Permalink
In: All, Music & Art

3 Responses

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  1. Written by Melanie
    on Sunday, 16 March 2008 at 17.58
    Permalink

    What do you think of the Canadian countertenor Daniel Taylor? I don't know enough about countertenors to have the ability to judge fairly, but I do like Taylor.

  2. Written by chris
    on Tuesday, 18 March 2008 at 21.40
    Permalink

    as you know, I've been a fan of David Daniels for quite a while. I think, given this direct comparison, I still prefer him to Scholl. There's more substance to his voice, I find.

    of course, it doesn't hurt that he's a member of the family

  3. Written by jns
    on Tuesday, 18 March 2008 at 22.07
    Permalink

    Melanie, I don't know Daniel Taylor at all, so I'll be on the lookout (listen-in?) for his voice. As for the countertenors, I think enjoying his voice is a great place to start, since that pleasure already assures quite a bit of technical competence.

    Chris, it would hardly seem a point to argue anyway since Daniels' voice is so lovely, too. In fact I quite like both, although they do have different colors. The couple of times I've heard Daniels performing operatic roles might indeed suggest that I'd prefer his voice in that setting. (And, although I hate to admit it, I can barely stand listening to Scholl singing English lute songs.; it sounds as silly to me as hearing Placido Domingo sing Tony in "West Side Story".)

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