Drew Minter, countertenor. Handel: Gia per la man; Gia l'ebro mio ciglio

Drew Minter, countertenor. Recitative: Già, per la man; Aria: Già l’ebro mio ciglio, from Orlando by George Frideric Handel (King’s Theatre, 1733). Libretto by Carlo Sigismundo Capece.

Hero-soldier Orlando (with the army of Charlemagne) falls madly in love with Princess Angelica, a pagan, who loves another. Terribly jealous, Orlando attacks Angelica. Believing that he has slain her, Orlando is driven mad. Magician Zoroastro places Orlando into a deep sleep (as reflected in the voice and orchestration) and sprinkles a healing powder, brought from the heavens by an eagle, upon Orlando, curing him of his madness.
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