#carestini

Co-stars & Rivals: C U S A N I N O

Real name: Giovanni Carestini

Born: Filottrano, near Ancona, c1704

Died: ?Filottrano, c1760

Voice: soprano (later alto)

Personality: Carestini was at first ‘a powerful and clear soprano (Burney), with a compass of b to c'; later he had ‘the fullest, finest, and deepest counter-tenor that has perhaps ever been heard’. His reputation was enormous. He was extremely perfect in passages which he executed with the chest-voice, according to the principles of the school of Bernacchi, and after the manner of Farinelli: in his ornaments he was bold and felicitous. He was also a very good actor; and his person was tall, handsome, and commanding. He created the role of Arbace in Vinci and Metastasio's Artaserse, which is known for its difficult and virtuosic arias. He sang in Munich in 1731 before coming to London to sing for Handel in 1733. Carestini made his début here on Dec. 4, 1733, in Cajus Fabricius, a pasticcio; and his magnificent voice and style enabled Handel to withstand the opposition, headed by Farinelli, at the other house. 

One fact:  In Handel’s Alcina occurs the beautiful song 'Verdi prati,' which Carestini sent back to the composer as not suited to him. Handel on this became furious, ran to the house of the singer, and addressed to him the following harangue: 'You tog! Don't I know petter as yourseluf vaat es pest for you to sing! If you vill not sing all de song vaat I give you, I will not pay you ein stiver' (Burney)

One quote: He who has not heard Carestini is not acquainted with the most perfect style of singing (Johann Adolf Hasse)

Giovanni Maria Capelli: I Fratelli Riconosciuti: Ciel Nemico.

Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert d'Astrée & Philippe Jaroussky.

Lyrics: Hostile sky, adverse stars, light up my path, defeated in battle, a constant king, injured spouse, bold lover, unfortunate, and yet faithful. From your orbit, o stars, you direct my treacherous and bitter destiny and the fate that betrays me.

  I'm not planning to turn this tumblr into a Jaroussky fan site. Fuckyeahjaroussky is already taken and I don't have that kind of attention span anyway.

Verdi prati Georg Friedrich Händel Alcina Ruggiero’s aria Philippe Jaroussky, Ensemble Artaserse Farinelli, Carestini: Castrats et rivaux; Versailles 2009

Verdi prati, selve amene, Perderete la beltà. Vaghi fior, correnti rivi, La vaghezza, la bellezza Presto in voi si cangerà. Verdi prati, selve a mene, Perderete la beltà. E cangiato il vago oggetto All’orror del primo aspetto, Tutto in voi ritornerà.

David Hansen canta el aria Risveglia lo sdegno (Poro) de Alessandro nell’Indie (1729) de Leonardo Vinci. El personaje de Poro fue interpretado por primera vez en Roma por el castrado soprano Giovanni Carestini, apodado “Cusanino”.

Risveglia lo sdegno, rammenta l’offesa; e pensa a qual segno mi fido di te.