While in Prague in early 1796, Beethoven composed (or at least finished) the concert aria “Ah! Perfido” (“O faithless one”) for soprano and orchestra, and published much later as Opus 65. This is Beethoven’s only concert aria that is still regularly performed in concert.
Beethoven wrote “Ah! Perfido” for the Countess Josephine de Clary in Prague and dedicated it to her. She was an amateur singer with a “charming” voice, but a voice probably not strong to sing a concert aria. “Ah! Perfido” was premiered later in 1796 by another soprano in Leipzig.
The Countess Josephine was only 18 at the time of Beethoven’s visit to Prague, and there might have been some romantic interest on Beethoven’s part, but as usual with Beethoven, she was way out of his league (aristocratically speaking) and she was married the following year.
The recitative part of Beethoven’s “Ah! Perfido” is derived from an opera libretto “Achille in Sciro” by Pietro Metastasio. (The myth of Achilles on Skyros involves how he disguised himself as a girl and fell in love with a Princess.) The aria that follows has an unknown source.
In the recitative of “Ah! Perfido” the singer goes from condemning the man who has deserted her (“Go then, ingrate”) and swearing eternal punishment, to reconsidering (“Cease, gods of vengeance!”). The aria bemoans the “state of anxiety” she’s been left in.
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“Ah! Perfido” for soprano and orchestra (Opus 65), 1796
In this wonderful performance, Romanian-born Swiss soprano Ana Maria Labin appears with the Boston Baroque ensemble at the New England Conservatory of Music.
#Beethoven250 Day 70
“Ah! Perfido” for soprano and orchestra(Opus 65), 1796
The concert aria can also be sung to a piano accompaniment, more specifically(in this case) a fortepiano in a dynamic staging with an appropriately expressive performance. The description on YouTube includes English and German translations.
#Beethoven250 Day 70
“Ah! Perfido” for soprano and orchestra(Opus 65), 1796
The great American dramatic soprano Cheryl Studer accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Claudio Abbado.