Handel: Il volo così fido (Riccardo Primo), Amanda Forsythe, soprano; Hanneke van Proosdij, recorder

A marvelous duet for voice and sopranino recorder from Handel's opera Riccardo Primo. 8K video from our award-winning program at the Berkeley Early Music Festival and Exhibition 2024, Amanda Forsythe, soprano with Hanneke van Proosdij, recorder. Handel had finished the score of Riccardo Primo by May of 1727. Unusually, the subject material for the opera was drawn from English history. Handel carefully balanced the material for his two competing stars, Francesca Cuzzoni (Costanza) and Faustina Bordoni (Pulcheria). At the close of the opera, Costanza has been set free and sings Il volo così fido in a joyful, birdsong style accompanied by the sopranino recorder. Arias in this style are often showcased with the baroque flute, but Handel may have given a nod to the sopranino recorder (known in England as the “bird flute”) in keeping with the English theme of the opera. Il volo così fido Al dolce amato nido Quell’augellin non ha. Come al tuo nobil core Quest’alma, tutt’amore. Sempre fedel sarà. A more true flight To his sweet and dear nest No bird could ever have. Just as to your noble heart This soul, pure love Will always remain true. Voices of Music Hanneke van Proosdij & David Tayler, directors Musicians Sopranino recorder: Hanneke van Proosdij Baroque violins: Augusta McKay Lodge (concertmaster) Aniela Eddy, Isabelle Seula Lee, Kati Kyme, Linda Quan & Maxine Nemerovski Baroque violas: Maria Caswell & Lisa Grodin Baroque cellos: Elisabeth Reed & WIlliam Skeen Violone: Farley Pearce Harpsichord: Katherine Heater Archlute: David Tayler Special thanks to the San Francisco Early Music Society for making this dream gig possible: www.sfems.org Audio engineer and ambisonics design: Boby Borisov Video: Lloyd Hryciw & Rob Clevenger 8K technology: David Tayler Post production: David Tayler & Andrew Levy Produced by David Tayler & Hanneke van Proosdij Audio mastering, video cutting and final 8K color and render: David Tayler #handel Copyright 2024 Voices of Music