"Dramatic rage"

Here is the great Marilyn Horne in a San Francisco Opera production of Vivaldi's Orlando Furioso from 1989. I was fortunate enough to see her perform this role, shortly before this recording was made. I remember how she planted her feet as she sang. She is 57 in this video. What an amazing talent! For comparison, you can hear her sing the same aria in 1978 at a faster tempo in this Venetian production. Marilyn Horne was successfully treated for pancreatic cancer in 2003, and continues to teach and promote the art-song repertoire and the art of the recital among young singers.



Sorge l'irato nembo

e la fatal tempesta
col sussurrar dell'onde
e s'agita, e confonde
e cielo, e mar.

Ma fugge in un baleno

l'orrida nube infesta,
e placido, e sereno
il cielo appar.

For her encore, the divine Ms. Horne will sing "C is for Cookie"