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George Frideric Handel

Recitative: Figlio non è, chi vendicar non cura
Aria: L'angue offeso mai riposa
from Act II, Scene 6 of the Italian opera, Giulio Cesare in Egitto

Libretto: by Nicola Francesco Haym, after Giacamo Francesco Bussani.

Premiere Cast, February 20, 1724

Cleopatra: Francesca Cuzzoni, soprano
Sesto: Margherita Durastanti, mezzo-soprano
Giulio Cesare: Senesino, alto castrato
Tolomeo: Gaetano Berenstadt, alto castrato
Nireno: Giuseppe Bigonzi, alto castrato
Cornelia: Anastasia Robinson, contralto
Achilla: Giuseppe Maria Boschi, bass
Curio: John Lagarde, bass

In this video:

Max Emanuel Cencic, countertenor
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne,
Ottavio Dantone.

Salle Métropole, Lausanne, 12 May 2008.


About the opera and the role:

"Opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto was first performed at the King's Theatre, Haymarket, London, on 20th of February 1724 with legendary alto castrato Senesino (Francesco Bernardi) performing the title role, Francesca Cuzzoni as Cleopatra. The opera was an immediate success. Handel revived it (with changes) in 1725, 1730, and 1732; it was also performed in Paris, Hamburg, and Brunswick. Like Handel's other works in the opera seria genre, Giulio Cesare fell into oblivion in the 19th century. In the 20th century, it was revived (in heavily altered form - reorchestrated and revamped with the male castrato roles transposed down for a baritone, tenor or bass) in Göttingen in 1922 by the Handel enthusiast Oskar Hagen.
...
The work is considered by many to be Handel's finest Italian opera, possibly even the best in the history of opera seria. It is admired for its superb vocal writing, its dramatic impact, and its deft orchestral arrangements.
...
Sesto (or Sextus) is the son of Cornelia and Pompey who has been killed by the Egyptians to show their loyalty to Caesar. The part of Sesto was first cast as a woman and then recast in Handel's lifetime as a tenor part. It is mostly cast as a trousers role in contemporary productions."
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Original Text

Recitative:
Figlio non è, chi vendicar non cura
del genitor lo scempio.
Su dunque alla vendetta
ti prepara, alma forte,
e prima di morir altrui dà la morte!

Aria:
L'angue offeso mai riposa,
se il veleno pria non spande
dentro il sangue all'offensor.
Così l'alma mia non osa
di mostrarsi altera e grande,
se non svelle l'empio cor.

Translation

Recitative;
There is not a son who is not concerned
With avenging his father's murder.
Up then, prepare yourself for revenge,
Brave soul, and, before dying,
Cause another's death!

Aria:
The offended serpent will not rest
Until it has spent its venom
In the blood of its offender.
Thus my soul does not dare
To lay claim to greatness and pride
Until the villain's heart has been torn from his breast.

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