Purcell: The Cold Song (What Power Art Thou) - (Neil Balfour)
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- Опубликовано: 31 мар 2019
- Hull Urban Opera Collective presents Neil Balfour performing The Cold Song (What Power Art Thou) from Purcell's opera 'King Arthur.'
The audio & video in this performance was a continuous LIVE recording by artsongstory.
Director: Russell Plows
Musical Director: Benjamin Newton
Performance: Neil Balfour (www.neilbalfour.com)
Audio & Video Recording: Ben Rawles
Designer: Liz Dees & Charles Huckvale at Apus Productions
Makeup and Wigs: Venice Marshall
A beaten, abused and broken down Yeti is paraded around Hull as entertainment for onlookers to marvel and gawp at. Mid-performance the Yeti's inner-beast starts to surface and he pleads for help from the audience. It's one last attempt at breaking free. However, the power of 'the cane' returns him back into his box.
LYRICS
What power art thou, who from below
Hast made me rise unwillingly and slow
From beds of everlasting, everlasting snow
See'st thou not how stiff, how stiff and wondrous old
Far unfit to bear the bitter cold
I can scarcely move or draw my breath
Let me, let me freeze again to death
email: info@artsongstory.com
www.artsongstory.com
www.hullurbanopera.com 
Видеоклипы
This is one of the best street performances I’ve ever seen! As a former singer I know how difficult it is to sing in various but I’ve never seen anyone perform crouched in a basket wearing this much faux fur risking being attacked by a dog. Free THE YETI! JUSTICE FOR THE YETI!
Thanks charpnatl! It was so unbelievably hot inside that basket. In one performance I nearly passed out!
The Hazards of Baskets LOL! I’m Very Happy you survived the experience!
Peta, youre thinking of peta, attacking on the basis of wearing fur.
there is some spoiled dum little dog barking in the audience.. All I KNOW is I must remember to exit a basket just as dramically !
Yes being crouched like that interferes with your breathing.
Your voice comes from your diaphragm.
He has excellent control.
This was AWESOME! Thank you!
That costume is terrifying and awesome.
And so fantastically simple.
If I saw this as a six year old, I would not have survived. I think Purcell would be proud of this performance.
Me every morning when I hit the snooze button on my alarm :P
ha ha !
Vocal performance, acting, costume, everything is excellent!
Thank you H Kogen 😊
Of all who have shared their rendition of Cold by Purcell, to my mind and ear this is by far the best performance
That is really kind of you, thank you 😊
Absolutely agree😌
Try Paul Gerimon's version for deep bass. Purcell wrote this originally for bass, and Gerimon's perfomance is truly powerful. ruclips.net/video/zGJU03SJcBg/видео.html
Absolut agree! Nanette Scriba is also a tipp. Oh wait, could they perform together?
All praise The Algorithm, which brought this to us.
Thanks Andrew
Amen!!
This beats any street performance I've seen. That Yeti is in fine voice, that must be one hell of a walking stick for him to so obedient.
Free the Yeti.
Never heard of this song by Purcell before (yes, I am that uncultured). But now I have to listen to it several times. It is indeed marvelously rendered by Neil Balfour.
Thanks MayBudha. You're not uncultured at all. I hadn't heard the song until I performed it either!
There is a very different rendition performed by Klaus Nomi.
@@baldieman64There are other few genial performances also!
@artsongsAre you the videographer or the singer? It was an excellent vid made of a live performance under street conditions, both of which make a professional-level capture many times more difficult. and that singer was exceptional as both vocal performer and actor -- he completely sidestepped the fantasy element and subsumed himself into the tragedy of a sentient being forced to live as a wretched exhibition toy.
Once the Oscar the Grouch aspect of his emergence from that rattan cell faded, the lyrics showed his tragedy in a way that street clothes would have not been able to portray.
He took that song and SOLD it.
Except for the several-second drop out in the captions, this was an eye opening and most unexpected treat.
Klaus Nomi The cold song ❤❤❤❤❤❤. Te gustará
Give an actor (singer) 2 sawhorses and a board and you've got a stage. In this case, a basket and a fabulous costume. Bloody brilliant on all counts! Bravissimo!
I've never heard a yeti sing before. And now I wonder if they all sound this good.
Amos thanks for noticing! We yeti's get such a bad rep but we're actually quite nice and we LOVE singing!
Is it weird that this is the first time opera has grabbed my attention? This is opera right? I'm not sure I find it beautiful, but I'm very much intrigued... I love it
This is certainly opera and those are lovely words to read. Thank you MrJoerT 😊
A Night at the Opera, Queen? Marx Brothers?
Great song and performance. The handlers were excellent too.
Thanks James
My blood froze in my veins. The singer's extraordinary voice, excellent performance, unsurpassed stage image. And beautiful eternal baroque music.
Derwish, that is such a lovely message. Thank you for taking the time.
Klaus Nomi's vocals are rather weak and unsupported by modern soprano castrato standards, but the song being his final public appearance before succumbing to AIDS makes it hauntingly realistic.
@@coreyhamilton53 Klaus was an actor on stage
Klaus Nomi sent me here. Two beautiful renditions of the same piece. Stunning....ly Co-o-o-old an-and so-oh-oh beau-ti-ee-ee-fuh-uhl.
That is such a great comment. Tha-a-a-anks Guy!
you're right, Nomi sang this aria amazingly great!
Согласна с вами, благодаря Клаусу Номи я узнала об этой музыке ❤
Very strong performance and the two guys left and right had great costumes and faces.
If I knew there were Yeti operas I would watch more operas.
Once heard, adopted forceternity. All renditions are glorious, this one is Top of the Mountain. Vive le baroque. Vive le Roi. The intensity of the cold warming us up, pure miracle! Merci .
Спасибо, спасибо вам! Это так прекрасно, что хочется плакать 😢. Я жила в детстве среди гор, недалеко были Памирские горы. В те годы было много разговоров о снежном человеке - йети, и многие его искали. И тут - ваша картинка, ваши персонажи, и я хочу плакать как ребёнок. Обнять и плакать. Такое уже не забудется, спасибо вам
this is me every morning.
What a wonderful way to portray the song. Kudos.
Thank you for printing out the text of the song. Because of the way that it is sung, it is hard for the audience to understand the meaning. Yet nobody else bothers to print out the text, as you kindly have done.
Our pleasure! 👍🏽
Absolutely love this! This kind of artistic expression should exist everywhere
Thanks Count Axel 😊
I love this! It is so awesome and original! The Yeti is great. Really great theater
Plus qu’au Yéti, il me fait penser à Ithaqua, le marcheur de Vent dans Lovecraft ou alors à Proserpo mis en boîte ! La mise en scène et l’interprétation sont absolument géniales, vraiment un moment magique et tellement crédible malgré son aspect fantastique… on se prend immédiatement à croire à l’histoire qu’on nous raconte. J’aurais aimé être là pour l’applaudir en « vrai ». Félicitations. ❤
This song is already extremely vivid in the music, and when this kind of simple acting is added, the scene comes to life and instantly captures the attention.
Great job, I love this kind of presentation that opens the world of classical music to everyone.
Thanks flexprog, that is a really lovely compliment to receive. We are really passionate about Classical Music being open to all 🙏🏽
I’ve only ever heard klaus nomi sing this before but this version is really impressive too!
If you liked Nomi's countertenor voice, check out Jakub Józef Orliński rendition of that, it's amazing too!
I only just found this, truly fantastic, how creative is this! I saw it performed this week at the National Opera Studio and can't get enough of it, I love the piece and this is perfect. Kids out with mum must have been traumatised along with small dogs. Full marks to Neil Balfour, may your talents take you far and wide, thank you.
Thank you Tim. That means a great deal 🙏🏽😊
I keep coming back to this, wow. I never knew this song's name, just that it was "Nomi's last song", and the tragedy of Klaus makes me cry every time.
You have made it your own. This is a new song now. It does not take away from Nomi; indeed- made me look up the opera it came from and turns out I love it too! Thank you.
This is so good in so many aspects! Even a miser like me would have emptied my wallet had I seen you in a street performance. You give so much to the soul, the key element of human existence! And yet many still question the relevance of art... Your life certainly has meaning and purpose!
Wow! Roddie, I think that’s the biggest compliment I’ve ever received. Thank you 🙏🙂
I would have thrown my purse at them, and gladly. Awesome music!
A beautiful interpretation. Very moving.
Thank you Mj 🤗
Really entertaining performance. Love your Act and accent Dear Yetti ❤❤❤
Thanks 😊
A tour de force comprised of creativity, imagination and superb voice. I discovered a jewel today. Bravissimo!!
Thank you Metanoia 😊
I have been studying Purcell for some time and was delighted to find this gem, stunning piece of work, love it.
That is really lovely to hear Kevin. Thanks for taking the time to write.
wow, that was unexpectedly profound
Thanks chrispysaid
Real art!
Wow ! Just seen this thanks to a friend, my dissertation was on King Arthur this is amazing!
A Moliere-Yeti: there is an old movie (Moliere, 1978) Where moliere dies, the very same song was played and his look very similiar - now risen again as yeti!
The make-up. Otherworldly.
This needs way more views. I'm sharing ❤
Thank you 🙏🏽
Que performance maravilhosa! Parabéns
So delighted to find this video on my feed! Thanks for the story of the song and reinterpretation. Very effective!
I am glad you enjoyed it 😊
Utterly magical! As compelling, in its way, as Diana Damrau's Queen of the Night. Encore!
Thank you John! 🙂
Lovely! Simple concept and tight execution.
Thank you! 😊
this gave me real chills down my spine, you sound exactly like how i imagine a snow monster would sound like if they sang, really bone chilling!!
Thanks French Lad. I love that description!
Креативненько.❤
I hope that the Yeti escapes in the second act to torment his captors and when they are caged themselves..he can sing Above Measure in his octave....Juno's revenge aria from Semele.
Fantastic sequel idea baritonebynight!
Utterly wonderful! I was immediately transported to watching 'The Draughtsman's Contract', circa 1983. In that film, we heard Michael Nyman using Purcell as his 'musical consultant'. Here, Purcell returns the compliment, across time - thanks to these immensely talented performers.
Wow, great, thanks!
Это было жутко в своей правдивости в отношении недалёких людей к инаковости других(к природе)...И музыкально красиво.Равнодушным такая интерпретация Пёрселла не оставит.Точно.
Большое тебе спасибо 14!
Great comment! Worth thinking about it. Thank you.
absolutly stunning in every way!!!!!
Thank you Bianca 🤗
This is excellent. Bravo!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤
BRAVISSIMO! Excellent performance!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Superb.
Thanks Jane 🙂
Brilliant. Just perfectly Brilliant.
Thank you 😊
This is stunning. The voice is wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Wow! What a performance! Amazing job!!!🎉
That was chilling
bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is simply BRILLIANT rendition of COLD SONG!!...👍👏👏💝🌟
MAGICAL!
That was mesmerising!
From ChatGPT: ""Cold Song," also known as "What Power Art Thou," is an aria from Henry Purcell's semi-opera "King Arthur," which premiered in 1691. The aria is sung by the character of the Cold Genius, who is the spirit of winter. Awakened from his slumber, he asks in astonishment what power has disturbed his rest and caused him to feel the pain of life's warmth. The lyrics express his longing to return to his peaceful, frozen state, away from the warmth that brings life and, with it, discomfort and pain. The aria is renowned for its expressive depth, capturing the spirit's struggle against the warmth that revives him."
Thank you for your nice, informativ, sobber comment. Like it very much. Greetings from Vienna, Martin
Stunning ❤ bravo!
so excellent.
Surreal
Agreed! 😂
Fabulous concept, singing and that costume was amazing. I thought it was old father time at first! But the Yeti makes sense also. Brilliantly done with the claws the first thing to emerge! 😄😁😁😁😁😁😁.
λίγο λυπηρό για το Yeti
Brilliant, just Brilliant :)
Absolutely stunning. Brilliant.
Brilliant.
Can't believe that this music, and this performance suddenly appeared without warning on my youtube selection. Wow. I was blown away. I didn't have to be told, i got that this yeti was being paraded as some freak dancing bear. Leave him alone. FREE THE YETI. And so onto all other performing animals.
WOW....! When Covid is over you should have a full production ! I would pay whatever you like to see it. FANTASTIC !
That's such a lovely and positive comment. Thank you legacyofpop!
Covid, convid you mean!
@@roslynaubrey7766 All of 'em...! Let Putin nuke it...With these guys we can re-build the world...one opera at a time...!
Purcell était un génie, le roi Arthur, un opéra extraordinaire, l'enterrement de la reine Marie etc.. Que du bonheur 😊il faut savoir ouvrir ses oreilles et amener le son au cerveau.
I think that is amazing! To see that on the street!?
Klaus Nomi has competition. Excellent interpretation.
Thanks D. C. Young, that means a lot 😊
Amazing!
Well now I know where Nyman got that melody. Go Purcell!!
Восхищена! Прекрасный миниспектакль: насладилась и пением и зрелищем! Спасибо.
I love this Video, my great respect! Also the German version by Nanette Scriba!
Beautiful!! ✨✨✨
Thank you 😊
That was friggin AMAZING!! I always found The Cold Song very haunting. It's more of the atmosphere created by it. But to apply it to the elephant man-like setting, makes it all the more cold. (no pun intended)
Thanks Djohn! We are really glad you enjoyed this so much!
What a beautiful and haunting world you create, your voice and acting set the tone so incredibly! Everything is so intentional. Exquisite!
Fan-tas-tic. Finally a modern interpretation I love
Thanks Nispen 😊
I love this version! Truly love it
Better than the others who are also magnificent singers.
Thank you MPaine 😊
I luv Purcell ofcourse .We need more imagination like this to get people into concert halls ! I only knew Dido and Aeneas i must check out this opera . there are so many choruses ,calls and other music by Purcell. Byrd is also worth checking out the experience !
I agree with all of those recommendations. Thanks! 😊
Great 👍👍👍👍
Che meraviglia...uno spettacolo unico!!!!
Grazie Alessandra! 😁
Absolutely AMAZING
Thanks Katbullar!
Love this. Thank you
Speechless.... What a great performance.... Thanks
Thanks radwild 😊
How many children have broken into tears because of this performance? I know, I would have crapped my pants, if I had seen you perform.
Присоединюсь к остальным восторженным комментаторам-это прекрасно, то что вам удалось показать и, главное, исполнить.
Спасибо George! 😊
best ever voice thank you for this great performance and your voice can break walls
I was still at university in Hull when this was done! Damn, if only I'd known.
Genius.
Thanks Oriel!
Wow … just stumbled on this fantastic street opera performance. Beautifully put together. I love the guy who is playing the music box … so clever. And the idea of some disturbed beastie from the cold - brilliant. Thanks ❤
Such a beautiful and sad song . Baroque music is just sublime . Bravo !
love it! x
Really interesting take on it . Has the callous 19th freak show and vaudeville comic juxtaposed and I really like bass baritone goe this aria better than countertenor. David Grecos rendition is great too ..( Australian bass bariton)
Thanks Jennifer!
Fantastic, Neil!!! I’ve been watching this for about a week, as I’m actually learning it now (as a tenor, though). I was listening to higher voices, but kept getting drawn back to this one. Just realised that it was you. Wonderfully effective interpretation! Keep doing well!
Thanks Melvin! I look forward to your version ☺️
@@artsongstory After it’s gone through quality control LOL