PRJCT Amsterdam / Maarten Engeltjes
Io t’abbraccio
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Recorded on 23 November 2024 in Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. View all concerts of PRJCT Amsterdam on this page.
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About this concert
“Io T’abbraccio” is a duet from George Frideric Handel’s opera Rodelinda, first performed in 1725. The opera tells the story of Rodelinda, the queen of Lombardy, who believes her husband, King Bertarido, to be dead. Grimoaldo, the usurper of the throne, tries to force Rodelinda to marry him to legitimize his rule. However, Bertarido is alive and returns in disguise to reclaim his kingdom and reunite with his wife. The opera is a tale of love, loyalty, and political intrigue.
The duet is sung by Rodelinda and Bertarido when they believe they must part forever. The lyrics express sorrow and the wish to stay together: “I embrace you, and I die; yet, in dying, I shall still be with you.” Handel’s music weaves the two voices together, creating a sense of longing and devotion.
Io t’abbraccio, e più che morte
Mi spaventa il tuo partir.
Ah! mia vita, a questo core
Più crudele è l’aspettar.
“Io T’abbraccio” is known for its simple yet powerful expression of love and loss. The duet remains one of Handel’s most memorable, touching listeners with its sincerity and emotion.
Programme
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Georg Frideric Händel
Io t’abbraccio
from: Rodelinda, HWV 19, Act II1685-1759
Musicians
- Maarten Engeltjes countertenor
- Jeanine De Bique soprano
- Ivan Iliev, Joseph Tan violin I
- Alexandra Lopez, Tomoe Badiarov, Anna Jane Lester, Saaya Ikenoya violin II
- Simone Siviero, Annemarie Kosten-Dür viola
- Antonio Pellegrino cello
- Alon Portal double bass
- Asako Ueda theorbo
- Edoardo Valorz harpsichord
About the performers
‘A voice that you want to keep listening to,’ is how de Volkskrant newspaper praised Dutch countertenor Maarten Engeltjes on the occasion of his most recent CD release. Engeltjes’ voice - rounded and soothing, honest and glowing and with that golden edge that elevates ‘beautiful’ to ‘excellent’, Engeltjes' voice has over roughly twenty years taken him to the most renowned opera houses and concert stages. With a passion for Baroque and contemporary repertoire, Engeltjes ensures that during every performance his own wonderment at both well-known and lesser-known masterpieces is also experienced intensely by the audience.
With their debut CD on the Sony record label (Bach: Forgotten Arias), 2019 proved a boom year for the career of baroque orchestra PRJCT Amsterdam. The ensemble, founded in 2017 by countertenor Maarten Engeltjes, is not only a breeding ground for talented musicians, but also a safe haven guaranteeing baroque performances with vision and temperament. With its mix of sweet allure and crystal-clear counterpoint, PRJCT Amsterdam stands for baroque with salt and pepper, which will appeal to both aspiring melomaniacs and connoisseurs.