Simone Kermes: Ombra mai fu / Giovanni Bononcini

Simone Kermes, crowned "Queen of Baroque" by Opera News, presents her eagerly awaited follow-up album to her multi-award-winning album Lava. "Colori d'amore" is a collection of rediscovered baroque arias exploring the various facets of love overflowing with poetry, passion and dazzling virtuosity. Thirteen of the fourteen arias on the disc are world-premiere recordings of forgotten arias by Bononcini, Broschi, Caldara, Matteis and Scarlatti and have been carefully researched by Claudio Osele, who already collaborated with the soprano on her previous album Lava. "Ombra mai fu" by Giovanni Battista Bononcini (1670 - 1747) has been the model for Handel's famous version of 1738. The aria was filmed during the recording sessions for "Colori D'Amore".

Giovanni Bononcini
FRONDI TENERE ... OMBRA MAI FU
(Il) Xerse -- Atto I, scena 1 -- Xerse
Frondi tenere e belle
Del mio platano amato,
Per voi risplenda il fato.
Tuoni, lampi e procelle
Non v'oltraggino mai la cara pace,
Né giunga a profanarvi austro rapace.
Ombra mai fu
Di vegetabile
Cara ed amabile,
Soave più.
*
Ihr zarten, schönen Blätter
meiner geliebten Platane,
möge das Schicksal euch freundlich sein.
Mögen Donner, Blitze und Stürme
nie euren kostbaren Frieden stören,
und möge kein verderblicher Südwind euch schaden.
Nie war der Schatten
eines teuren, lieblichen
Gewächses
angenehmer.
*
Lovely green boughs
of my beloved plane tree,
destiny shimmers through you.
Let no thunder, lightning and storms
ever disturb your precious peace
nor any thieving south wind profane you.
Never was the shade
of any plant
more treasured, charming
and sweet.

Text: Silvio Stampiglia (after Nicolò Minato)