Orlando by Handel

On Friday night, Orlando was running in the Zurich Operahouse. The piece is typical Handel. Have an impression it is not very well known, because I tried to get the libretto for "consolati o bella" but couldnt find it. Consolati o bella is a terzett in the piece, where there are three sopranos singing together (one of the sops is supposed to be a man -- Medoro, Angelica and Dorinda). So Dorinda finds out that A and M are together, and since D likes M, she is heartbroken (in fact before this, there is a scene where M "professes" his liking for D, so she is led to think that M was in love with her). So now, A and M sings to D to consoles her of her grief... Somehow, I like the controlled soprano-s :). Unfortunately, in the performance, A was a much stronger/powerful singer, while D is a very high pitched sop, her voice as often too thin, so there was this marked imbalance.

However, William Christie was the conductor, and the music flowed beautifully. Singing.

Since it is almost impossible to find the libretto (plus my translation, didnt like the one provided with the libretto)

Consolati o bella
A+M : Consolati o bella --- Consolations babes
Gentil pastorella --- Lovely shepardess
Ch'al fine il tuo core --- at the end, your heart
E' degno d'amore --- so love worthy
E amor trovera --- and find love

D: Non so consolarmi -- I am inconsolable
No voglio sperare -- I wish not to hope
Piu amor non puo darmi -- for love can no longer offer
L'oggetto da amare -- the dearest object
Che perder mi fa -- that i have lost

A: Non perder la speme -- Dont lose hope
Ch'e l'unico bene -- the only goodness

M: Hai l'alma costante --you have a steady soul
Per esser amante -- that is made for love

D: No, solo fra pene -- no, only for suffering
Il cor vivera --- does my heart live