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Ah, I'm not a great fan of Neapolitan songs Hvorostovski sang lots of Neapolitan things as well...

But I love this Corelli version - so languid. Thanks!

There was an old double CD set of Franco Corelli, called songs and arias, which had a slightly, ahem, inauthentic rendition of Ombra mai fu (nestling in between a load of Neapolitan songs) that was definitely an experience - I think I lent my copy to a friend and never saw it again, but it's on youtube too, accompanied by a rather frenetic slideshow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_5lcNPrOgM

You've gotta love Franco...

Hvorostovski is definitely one of the most powerful voices around, and he's really eclectic - he's at ease with Verdian roles, as with Russian and Neapolitan folk songs. But what happens when he sings Handel? Here's the performance I have in mind:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h0PcHEdSpnA

and here's the same aria as it was performed during the contest that made him famous:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PoAhxAlW6QY

I was wondering how everybody feels about this kind of interpretation. I have to say that although I generally like lighter registers for baroque, this particular rendition is really effective and intense. I'm quite fascinated, also because I never thought I could enjoy Handel if sung like this!