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• 20 Feb 2017

Dame Joan Sutherland – “Tornami a vagheggiar” Aria of Alcina I Act Scene XV – “Alcina” (1735) – Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759).

I consider this rendering of “Tornami a vagheggiar” the best Dame Joan Sutherland’s performance in this “aria”, during the whole of her career. This is a full and expanded rendition, the voice is very controlled but intensely expressive. Sir Malcolm Sargent directs with great breadth and breath.
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“Dame Joan Sutherland, in exceptionally fine and youthful form, sings the aria which earned her the name ‘La Stupenda’ at La Fenice: ‘Tornami a vagheggiar’ from Handel’s opera ‘Alcina.’ This concert, conducted by Malcolm Sargent, was broadcast live from the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall in August of 1960.”

“TORNAMI A VAGHEGGIAR”

“Tornami a vagheggiar,
te solo vuol amar
quest’anima fedel,
caro mio bene.
Già ti donai il mio cor;
fido sarà il mio amor;
mai ti sarò crudel,
cara mia speme.”
(“Return to me to languish,
Only you it wants to love
this faithful heart,
My dear, my good one, my dear!
Already I gave you my heart :
I trust you will be my love;
but you will be too cruel,
my dear hope.”
Translation by Robert Glaubitz).