Vivaldi: Ah, ch’infelice! | John Holiday & Academy of Ancient Music

Join us at our next concert: Countertenor John Holiday stars in the aria ’Ah, ch’infelice!’ from Antonio Vivaldi’s cantata ’Cessate, omai cessate’, RV684 [], performed with the Academy of Ancient Music. John has quickly established himself as a fast-rising singer to watch and “one of the finest countertenors of his generation” (Los Angeles Times). His voice has been praised as “a thing of astonishing beauty” (New Yorker), “arrestingly powerful, secure and dramatically high” (Wall Street Journal), “exceptional [and] in its highest range” (The New York Times) and “timeless”(Washington Post). Here he sings one of Vivaldi’s most magnificent yet under-appreciated arias, depicting a shepherd weeping over his lost love, the pizzicato strings suggesting tears landing on the strings of his lyre. ’AH, CH’INFELICE’ ’Ah, ch’infelice sempre Me vuol Dorilla ingrata, Ah sempre piú spietata, Mi stringe à lagrimar. Spietata, mi stringe à lagrimar Per me non v’è ristoro Per me non v’è speme. E il fier martoro e le mie pene Solo la morte può consolar.’ ’Oh, how for ever unhappy Ungrateful Dorilla wishes me Oh, ever more merciless She brings me to tears Merciless, she brings me to tears For me, there is no relief For me, there is no hope And the cruel torment and my sorrow Only death can console.’ Subscribe and follow us on social media for more great content! Website: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC Countertenor: John Holiday Recorded & filmed at Temple Church, Inner Temple, London, by kind permission of the Master, May 2019 Video director: Jessie Rodger Video editing: Jessie Rodger Music producer: Alexander Van Ingen Recording engineer: Dave Rowell #academyofancientmusic #TheVoice2020