Night

A great work based on the Petrarchan theme of the lover who sighs alone while nature sleeps. Beginning with a hushed recitative accompagnato, the cantata has a total of 4 recitatives and arias, portraying the lover's brightly-coloured dream of love returned. A handwritten version of this edition was premiered memorably in the 1980s by tenor Nigel Rogers for the BBC, with the Taverner Players

Range: d'-a''

Source: British Library, London

Editor: Rosalind Halton

(1705) Hanley 478. Three arias, two recits. Sources in British Library and Santini Collection, Münster.

Theme of night and the solitary lover; rewarding cello part, especially the virtuoso Aria 2.

Vocal range: d'-g''.

Editor: Rosalind Halton

'Dear night, blessed shadows...I only enjoy my dreams and cry in the day...' Very much a nocturnal lover in one of Scarlatti's stunning night cantatas. Beautiful harmonies, sinuous dreaming vocal lines capturing that special air of quiet and suspense. In ARARA format and compiled from two copies in the Naples Conservatorio Library.

Editor: James Sanderson

Ariodante's spectacular coloratura aria from Act III, scene viii

Editor: James Sanderson

Source BL Add 31618 - a manuscript conatining a number of orchestral cantatas by Leo in copies of varying quality.

The format is sinfonia - recit - aria - recit - aria and the general feel is that peculiar pre-classical sound with repeated bass notes and many pedals. A charming cantata in which the lover compare's the beloved's absence to the shadows of night. Very romantic!

Range: Bb - g'

Editor: James Sanderson

This was clearly a popular work in its time with no less than three copies found in the Naples collection. 'When night rules...' Like a moth to a flame the lover goes, but must he die for his love? In RARA format with two beautifully shaped arias and complex, harmonically challenging recitatives, one can see why it was popular!

Editor: James Sanderson

Cantata Op. 1, no. 6

Another of Metastasio's famous cantata texts - as night draws in the lover calls Nice to take in the air, compares her to Teti, Galatea, Glauce and Dori - nothing quite like love! Adagio - Recit - Allegretto, all beautiful.

Range: e' - a''

Editor: James Sanderson

Cantata Op. 1, no. 2

Text by Metastasio in which the lover dreams of his beloved taking away all sadness
Lento - Recit (spectacular) - Andantino

Range: e' - a''

Editor: James Sanderson

'Even the shades burning in Pluto's fires do not suffer as much as I...' Irene is being cruel again and our erstwhile lover is suffering. RARA form Canzona from a manuscript in the Biblioteca del Conservatorio di musica S. Pietro a Majella - Napoli: Cantate 236(43)

Editor: James Sanderson