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• 17 Feb 2017

Dame Joan Sutherland – “Ma quando tornerai” (“Let the Bright Seraphim”) – Bis (“Encore”) after a performance of “Alcina” (1735) – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759) – LIVE in Venezia – 1960.
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“After a stupendous reintroduction of Handel to the Italian audience, Sutherland encored here, from the 1960 live recording at La Fenice in Venice, ‘Ma quando tornerai,’ from ‘Alcina’, set to Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim-‘ Following this performance, she became known, deservedly, as La Stupenda.”
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“This recording captures the encore to Alcina that Sutherland sang at the end of her first Italian performance in February, 1960. It is sung to the words of ‘Ma quando tornerai,’ one of Alcina’s arias.
Imagine singing this piece directly after singing the title role! No wonder they first called her La Stupenda after this performance.”
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Orchestra – Teatro la Fenice di Venezia
Chorus – Teatro la Fenice di Venezia
Conductor M.° Nicola Rescigno.
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Cast:
Alcina – Dame Joan Sutherland
Ruggiero – Monica Sinclair
Bradamante – Oralia Domínguez
Oronte – Nicola Monti
Morgana – Cecilia Fusco
Melisso – Plinio Clabassi.
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LIVE Recording of the first performance of “Alcina” sung by Dame Joan Sutherland at Teatro La Fenice – Venezia (I) – February, 1960
Compact Disc Bella Voce – Unknown year of releasing.

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“MA QUANDO TORNERAI” (“LET THE BRIGHT SERAFIM” sung with the words of “Ma quando tornerai”)

Ma quando tornerai
di lacci avvinto il piè,
attendi pur da me
rigore e crudeltà.
E pur, perché t’amai,
ho ancor di te pietà.
Ancor placar mi puoi,
mio ben, cor mio; non vuoi?
Mi lascia, infido, e va’!