Mattia Battistini - Ai miei rivali cedere [Ruy Blas] - 1921

I'm newly obsessed with this aria from the now-forgotten opera by Filippo Marchetti, but only like four baritones recorded it. The other three are quite good, but of course Battistini's is the best, duh. And just think: he's 65 years old here. Don Sallustio's words take on a kind of poignancy here at the end of Battistini's long career. One of the last bearers of the torch of 18th century bel canto and Romantic ideals, and faced with the various rough-voiced, barely schooled modern divos and their applauding public, he must've felt hurt on the one hand by the vitiation of public taste. On the other hand, he certainly got a second, third, and fourth wind enough to manage his long farewell concert tour that would begin just a year after this recording. Indeed he included this aria in some these concert programmes. ______________________________________ DON SALLUSTIO (en) Chased out!.. Banished!.. Should I suffer so fierce an insult in silence? Ah, no! Never! I am leaving this court and the town of Madrid as an exile, but for a little time. One day, she will see me again (turning to the portrait of the queen with a threatening shout) like a a fatal angel of death! (changing his mood from anger to sadness) One day! Yes, but in the meanwhile everyone will only see the shame of this wrong, which humiliates me, alas!, so much! I am to yield to my rivals my long-desired glory! I am to spend my life far from here, alone and an exile! Oblivion is to dim my great power and people are to swear at the fallen lion! (rising again and recovering his former pride) Insult me?.. No, let all the vile ones quiver! I am still alive! (turning to the portrait once again) And you, who have been so impudent, fear my wrath. You have taken my honour, I will take yours. DON SALLUSTIO (it) Io scacciato!... io bandito!... E il fiero insulto dovrei soffrire tacendo?... Ah! no, mai!... Madrid e questa corte Esule io lascio... ma per poco; un giorno Mi rivedrà costei, (volgendosi alla ritratto della regina con un grido di minaccia) Come un genio fatal di morte!... (passando dall’ira all’abbattimento) un giorno!... Sì, ma palese intanto A tutti fia lo scorno di questo colpo, che m’umilia, ahi!, quanto!... Ai miei rivali cedere Dovrò la gloria ambita! Trarrò solingo ed esule Lontano di qui la vita!... Sul mio potere temuto L’oblio si stenderà E al leon caduto Il volgo insulterà!... (rianimandosi e e riassumendo tutto il suo orgoglio primiero) Insulti a me?... No, tremino i vili! ... Io vivo ancor!... (rivolgendosi di nuovo al ritratto) E tu, che tanto ardisti, Paventa il mio furor; L’onor tu mi rapisti Io ti torrò l’onor. ..................................... This channel is primarily about vocal emission—aural examples of basically correct singing, correct impostazione—chiaroscuro, vowel clarity, firm and centered pitch, correct vibrato action, absence of throatiness or thickness, sounds free from constriction and from the acoustic noise that accompanies it—with occasional video examples that demonstrate what the body, face, mouth, jaw, and tongue look like when used with correct impostazione—the vocal emission of the one and only Italian school. Caveat: I'm biased in favor of baritones and baritone literature, but if you want to learn about and listen to all the greatest singers in the old-school tradition, explore this spreadsheet (voice parts are separated by tabs): https://bit.ly/2W4qmE3