Se in fiorito ameno prato excerpt

This is a video from when I performed Cesare’s arias at Meche Kroop’s home last Sunday, with Nacho Ojeda Romero as the pianist. Thank you so much again, Meche, for the opportunity to perform them before singing the title role in Giulio Cesare at the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival (Jerusalem Lyric Opera Studio & Festival) this July!
This is an excerpt from Cesare’s aria, “Se in fiorito ameno prato.”
To set the scene of this aria:
Cesare has just been seduced by the gorgeous Lidia (who is actually Cleopatra in disguise. This follows her famous aria, “V’adoro, pupille”). He’s very happy about seeing her again later, and sings an aria comparing Lidia to a singing bird.
In this aria, you’ll hear a lot of interplay between my vocal lines and Nacho’s musical lines, representing the bird song. (Fun fact: In the orchestration, these musical lines are depicted by a solo violin.)
Translation of the aria:
If in a flowery, pleasant meadow, the little bird among flowers and leaves hides itself, it makes its singing more pleasing.
If, in the same way, the graceful Lidia unfolds notes that are even more melodious, she causes every heart to fall in love with her.