Music: Klaus Nomi - The Cold Song

This is one of Klaus Nomi’s greatest performances. In this video, Klaus Nomi sings Purcell’s aria “The Cold Song” from his 17th century baroque opera King Arthur.

The opera’s composer Henry Purcell died in 1695 from incurable T.B. aged 36, while in 1983 Klaus Nomi sadly died as one of the first prominent victims of AIDS, aged 39.

He died about a half year after this recording was taken in Munich, Germany.

Click on the image below for the link (multimedia)

From the libretto of Purcell’s aria Cold Song:
“…What power art thou, who from below
Hast made me rise unwillingly and slow
From beds of everlasting snow
See’st thou not ( how stiff )2) and wondrous old
Far unfit to bear the bitter cold,
I ( can scarcely move or draw my breath )2)
Let me, let me freeze again to death.3)

More information:
Klaus Nomi at Wikipedia.