Hi Molly,
You didn't say what voice type you were exactly - for some silly reason, I remember you as a mezzo (but that doesn't mean anything, b/c my memory is not reliable).
If you are indeed a highish mezzo, you could try Verdi Prati from Handel's Alcina, which is one of my most favourite arias. I played harpsichord for a student's grad recital one year - she had a whole string quartet do it with her! I've also played (hm... I dont' seem to be doing enough singing) Piangero la sorte mia from Handel's Giulio Cesare to open another singer's recital. It's slow but has that fast middle section. I think V'adoro Pupille (same opera) would be a nice opener. Those are both soprano arias.
Ombra mai fu - exists in both a high and low key, from Handel's Xerses - you'll know the tune as his "Largo!"
I also like opening recitals with Bist du bei mir and O Had I Jubal's Lyre. Another florid work which I have seen as a recital opener is Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (the first movement) by Bach - it's cantata 51. It's florid, but for some reason, it seems that heavier voices like it, so maybe you will too.
Bach - what about Ich folge dir (John Passion) or ich will dir or Blute nur (Matthew passion). That's all for soprano although Blute nur i've heard done by mezzo. Or something from the wedding cantata? For that matter, either aria from the Coffee cantata (but especially the first) is nice - in fact, the first aria is for continuo and flute only - you might bring those people in for it. It's very funny and people love it. The Laudamus te (at least, i think that's the thing I'm thinking of) from the B minor mass... I've heard it done by mezzos and sopranos. The tempo is in the middle - not terribly fast, but not slow either.
One of the Handel Nine German arias - meant for continuo and an obligato instrument (violin, oboe, flute, etc.).
What about Vivaldi? Domine Deus from the Gloria - again for obligato violin (I think? or flute?) and continuo. There is lots of vivaldi - I sang a crazy rage aria from Juditha Triumphans that I loved - it didn't go very high, but it did have quite a few runs in it!
Hope this helps.
Fiona
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