Handel: "Va tacito", from his Opera Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar). Andreas Scholl, countertenor.

"Va tacito e nascosto" (Italian. English translation: "Silently and stealthily") is an aria written for alto castrato voice in Act 1 of George Frideric Handel's opera "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" (Julius Caesar in Egypt HWv 17), composed in 1724 to a libretto by Nicola Francesco Haym. Here in this aria, a diplomatic stand-off is depicted; a peeing contest, as it were - its outcome made entirely unambiguous by the overwhelming military supremacy of the "upstart" Romans, led by Julius Caesar. Here is a clip featuring countertenor Andreas Scholl as Caesar, alongside countertenor Christopher Robson, as Tolemeo, accompanied by an extensive solo natural horn obbligato - the predecessor to the modern-day (French) horn. The staging here is a contemporary take on Handel's esteemed opera - a humorous tonic perhaps in these current, dark days of restrictions on personal liberty owing to Covid. I hope you enjoy it too. Libretto Va tacito e nascosto, quand'avido è di preda, l'astuto cacciator. E chi è mal far disposto, non brama che si veda l'inganno del suo cor. (Translation: The wise hunter seeking prey goes silently and stealthily. And he who intends evil will not wish to show the deceit in his heart.) Performance Concerto Copenhagen Conductor Lars Ulrik Mortensen Recorded at the Royal Danish Opera, March 2005