Barbara Strozzi
1.01

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Sonetto Proemio dell'Opera

Duet originally for two Sopranos and basso continuo.
Original Language: Italian

Mercé di voi, mia fortunata stella,
Volo di Pindo in fra i beati chori,
E coronata d’immortali allori
Forse detta sarò Saffo novella.

Così l’impresa faticosa e bella
Sia felice del canto e degl'amori,
Che s’unisco le voci i nostri cori
Non disunisca mai voglia rubella.

O che vaga e dolcissima armonia
Fanno due alme innamorate e fide,
Che quel che l’una vuol l’altra desia,

Che gioisce al gioir, ch’al rider ride,
Né mai sospiran, che’l sospir non sia
D’una morte che sana e non uccide.

Poet:
Giulio Strozzi
English

Sonnet. Beginning of the work

Thanks to you, my star of good fortune,
I fly from Mount Pindo among the blessed choirs,
and crowned with laurels of immortality
I will perhaps be considered a new Sappho.

Let the difficult and beautiful undertaking
be joyful with song and cupids,
so that our hearts united by voices
may never be disjoined by conflicting desires.

Oh what blithe and sweet harmony
two faithful souls in love make,
for what one wants the other desires,

They rejoice with each other's joy, laugh with each other's laughter,
and never sigh except with the sigh of death
that heals and doesn't slay.

Translated by:

Richard Kolb

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Cover of Sonetto Proemio dell'Opera

Sonetto Proemio dell'Opera

Published by Cor Donato Editions in historically correct modern transcription, including critical introductory notes on the work, editorial procedures, original texts with new English translations, and other contextual information about the piece.

Now available at CorDonatoEditions.com!

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  • A New Sappho, album cover image

    A New Sappho

    Favella Lyrica

    Koch International Classics (2000) [Audio CD]

    • Track #1 - Sonetto Proemio dell'Opera (SA, hps, b viol) [4:56]
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  • Barbara Strozzi

    arie e duetti

    director, Gabriel Garrido, Victor Aragon - viola da gamba, violone, Ryoko Katayama - harpsichord, organ, Il Segreto delle muse ensemble, Marie-Laure Coenjaerts - mezzo-soprano, Florence Susant Florence - soprano, Jasper Bärtling-Lippina - lutes-guitars, Mathias Ferré - viola da gamba, Luce Courceulles - harp, Xavier Sichel - violin, Saskia Birchler - violin

    Pan Classics (2024) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #1 - Sonetto proemio dell'opera (voices, bc) [6:23]
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  • Barbara Strozzi: Il Primo de Madrigali

    Orlando di Lasso Ensemble

    Thorofon Records (2000) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Disc #1 / Track #1 - Sonetto. Prömio dell' opera (SS, lirone, chitarrone, hps, org) [5:51]
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  • Due Alme Innamorate

    Ensemble Kairós, Barbara Lorey Jokisch, soprano

    Koch International Classics (2006) [Audio CD]

    • Mercè di voi, Op 1 (SS, bc) [5:46]
  • La Virtuosissima Cantatrice

    The vocal music of Barbara Strozzi

    Musica Secreta, Deborah Roberts, soprano, Mary Nichols, alto, Kasia Elsner, theorbo, John Toll, harpsichord, Suzie Le Blanc, soprano

    Amon Ra (1994) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Mercè di voi, Op 1 (SS, bc) [5:30]
  • La Virtuosissima Cantatrice

    Virtuoso and Bel Canto Masterpieces for Female Voice ( selections from other CD)

    Musica Secreta, Deborah Roberts, soprano, Suzie Le Blanc, soprano, Mary Nichols, alto, John Toll, harpsichord, Kasia Elsner, theorbo

    Amon Ra (2018) [Audio CD]

    • Track #10 - Merce di voi, Op 1 (SS, bc) [5:30]
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  • Lamenti Barocchi

    volume 2

    Cappella Musicale di San Petronio, Sergio Vartolo, harpsichord, Cristina Miatello, soprano, Patrizia Vaccari, soprano, Andrea Damiani, chitarrone

    Naxos (1996) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Track #6 - Merce di voi, Op 1 (SS, hpsc) [9:16]
  • Primo Libro de' Madrigali

    La Venexiana

    Cantus (2000) [Audio CD, Digital / MP3]

    • Merce di voi, Op 1 (SS, bc) [5:18]
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