Aris Cristofellis, "L'Olimpiade" Vivaldi
Singing falsetto soprano is very difficult and unusual. Although the resulting sound can be rather constrained and hard-edged, the male timbre and clean sound contrasts greatly with the sound of a females voice. The sound of sopranist Aris Christofellis is an acquired taste; however, his precise and agile technique is astonishing in this aria with its rapid notes, leaps, and long gymnastic lines. Vivaldi obviously wrote it to show off the astonishing castrato voice.