Ombra mai fu (aria only) : Caruso, Schipa, Gigli, Tauber, Ferrier, Bjorling, Corelli,Wunderlich

0:00 Enrico Caruso Rec 1920
3:19 Tito Schipa Rec 1927
6:44 Beniamino Gigli Rec 1933
9:57 Richard Tauber Rec 1939
12:28 Kathleen Ferrier Rec 1948
16:02 Jussi Bjorling Rec 1954
19:15 Franco Corelli Rec 1963
22:33 Fritz Wunderlich Rec 1964
This is the aria Ombra Mai Fu from Handel's 1738 opera Xerxes.In the aria the singer is actually admiring a tree and the translation is as follows.
Tender and beautiful fronds
of my beloved plane tree,
let fate smile upon you.
May thunder, lightning, and storms
never disturb your dear peace,
nor may you by blowing winds be profaned
Never was a shade
of any plant
dearer and more lovely,
or more sweet
I have tried to get the best out of the earlier mono recordings and, just to give a live effect with more presence, I have added applause.
I usually only feature tenors but have included Contralto Kathleen Ferrier because I think that this is a wonderful recording of the aria. Kathleen came from the north of England as I do and was a very well respected singer of classical and folk music. Sadly she developed breast cancer and died when she was just 41 years of age.
The Jussi Bjorling recording is from a concert at Bergen, Norway on 9th June 1954. Jussi had been suffering from a persistent throat problem that had forced him to cancel some engagements prior to this concert so his voice was not at it's best. Never the less this is an excellent performance.

Видео Ombra mai fu (aria only) : Caruso, Schipa, Gigli, Tauber, Ferrier, Bjorling, Corelli,Wunderlich канала Michael McGrail