Georg Frideric Handel - Rinaldo - “Lascia ch’io pianga“ (Arleen Auger)

It had to come to this :-)... Handel is particularly famous for his various largos (“Cara sposa“, anyone?), but I always felt that some of the most famous of these pieces are really not that good (I can’t say I like “Ombra mai fu“ or “Where’er you walk“) and that some are injustly out of the public’s favor (a prime example is Ino’s introspective “Turn, hopeless lover“ from “Semele“ which, I hope, I will come around to posting). And yet, despite my critical view, I really like “Lashia ch’io pianga“ which, because of it’s evergrowing popularity, seems to have turned into a sort of pop ballad, so many artists have recorded it (Christ, even Charlotte Church gave it a try). But so many versions highlights the fact that not many artists can provide, at the very least, a decent account of the aria. The present post is my personal pick: Arleen Auger. Not only does this recording feature some truly beautiful singing (I especially like