Handel - Rodelinda “Io t’abbraccio“ R. Fleming & A. Scholl

As an example of what NOT to do when singing a Handel duet... I wonder what she was thinking :) “Io t’abbraccio“ Rodelinda, re de’ Longobardi, HWV 19 Duetto di Rodelinda e Bertarido, end of act II In this recording: Renée Fleming Andreas Scholl Conductor: Patrick Summers New York, Metropolitan Opera (live) “Rodelinda, regina de’ Longobardi“ (HWV 19) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was based on a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym, in turn based on an earlier libretto by Antonio Salvi. Salvi’s libretto originated with Pierre Corneille’s play “Pertharite, roi des Lombards“. It was first performed at the King’s Theatre in the Haymarket, London, on 13 February 1725. It was produced with the same singers as Tamerlano. There were 14 performances and it was repeated on 18 December 1725, and again on 4 May 1731. It was also performed in Hamburg. The first modern production was in Göttingen on 26 June 1920. Premiere Cast, February 13, 1725 (Conductor: - ) Rodelinda, Queen of Longobardi: (soprano) Francesca Cuzzoni Bertarido, King of Longobardi: (alto castrato) Senesino Grimoaldo, Duke of Benevento: (tenor) Francesco Borosini Eduige, Bertarido’s sister: (alto) Anna Vicenza Dotti Unulfo, Bertarido’s friend and counsellor: (alto castrato) Andrea Pacini Garibaldo, Grimoaldo’s counsellor, duke of Turin: (bass) Giuseppe Maria Boschi Synopsis: Grimoaldo has usurped Bertarido in battle, who has fled. It is believed that Bertarido has died in exile, but he sends word to his friend Unulfo that he is alive and in hiding near the palace. Rodelinda and her son, Flavio, are being kept in the palace by Grimoaldo, who has fallen in love with her. Original text: RODELINDA e BERTARIDO Io t’abbraccio. E più che morte, aspro e forte, è pel cor mio questo addio, che il tuo sen dal mio divide. Ah mia vita! Ah mio tesoro! se non moro, è più tiranno quell’affanno, che dà morte, e non uccide. Translation (by Kenneth Chalmers): I embrace you. And more bitter and harsh than death to my heart is this farewell which tears us apart. Ah, my life! Ah, my treasure! If I do not die, then how cruel is that distress which brings death, but does not kill.