Edda Moser's huge, nimble voice slays as an evil sorceress

Описание: Handel: RINALDO - Furie terribili & Molto voglio, New York 1984

THE SONGBIRD: Edda Moser was born in Berlin in 1938, the daughter of musicologist Hans Joachim Moser. She studied at the Stern Conservatory and made her debut as Kate Pinkerton in Berlin in 1962. After singing in the Würzburg Opera Chorus, she took principal roles at the opera houses in Hagen, Bielefeld, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. Moser joined the Vienna State Opera in 1971, debuting as Konstanze. She made her U.S. debut in 1968 in "Das Rheingold" at The Met. Other roles there over nine seasons included Donna Anna, Queen of the Night, Konstanze, Armida, Nedda, Musetta, and Liù.

THE MUSIC: "Rinaldo" was the most frequently performed of Handel’s many operas during his lifetime. It was the first he composed for London, premiering there in 1711. It was written with haste and has borrowed material from earlier works: for example, two of Almirena's arias were recycled. It was revived many times and revised by Handel in 1717 and 1731. It then fell into obscurity, though now is produced fairly often and considered one of Handel's best operatic works. It is one of his magical operas and has plenty of theatrical flair: fiery chariots descending from the sky, singing mermaids, shape shifting, monsters, magic wands, and disappearing castles and gardens. Plus a happy ending when the sorceress Armida renounces her evil powers and converts to Christianity! Armida's music is florid and dramatic.