Tuesday 6 September 2011
Tune of the Day: Lascia ch'io pianga
from Handel's “Rinaldo”, arranged for flute and piano
This soprano aria by George Frideric Handel has become a very popular concert piece. The melody for the song began its life as an Asian dance in his 1705 opera Almira. As an aria the piece was first used in Handel's 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, albeit with a different text and name, “Lascia la spina”. Handel later recycled the work for his 1711 opera Rinaldo, giving the aria to the character Almirena in Act II. Rinaldo was a major triumph for Handel, and it is with this work that the aria is now chiefly associated.
Let me weep my cruel fate,
and let me sigh for liberty.
May sorrow break these chains
Of my sufferings, for pity's sake.
Thanks to Jess for suggesting this piece!