MIRIAM LICETTE (Soprano)
ARTHUR Cox (Tenor)
The B.B.C. LIGHT ORCHESTRA
Conducted by PERCY PITT
THIS recitative and aria are sung near the beginning of Aida by Rhadames, the Egyptian soldier. The priests are taking counsel of their gods, to learn who should be chosen to lead the army against the ancient enemy, the Ethiopians. In the recitative, Rhadames voices the hope that the choice may fall on him, 'and that he may return victorious, to lay his spoils and honours at Aida's feet. Then he breaks off into an ecstatic love-song in her praise' Heavenly Aida, beauty resplendent.' He does not yet know that she is a royal princess-daughter of the King of the Ethiopians, against whom he hopes to march. He knows only that she is a captive, slave of the Egyptian princess, Amneris, and he loves her devotedly.
The air is a first favourite among Verdi's songs for tenor ; it demands fine singing, but, in the hands of an artist who knows his job, never fails of its thrilling effect.
THE Countess, in Mozart's opera Figaro, has grave doubts of her Count's fidelity, and schemes with her maid, Susanna, to find him out by a little plot of disguises and changed costumes. In the recitative before the aria she gives vent to her doubts of the propriety of such a scheme, and then, in the aria, laments the happy days when she was sure that his devotion was wholly her own.