Ah, crudel il pianto mio (Handel) Inga Kalna

Rinaldo, HWV 7 (1711) George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Inga Kalna as Armida Freibruger Baroqueorchester led by René Jacobs Rinaldo was first performed at the Queen’s Theatre in London’s Haymarket on February 24, 1711. The role of Armida was written for Italian soprano Elisabetta Pilotti Schiavonetti (c. 1680-1742). Handel composed four roles for her and three of them were sorceresses. In addition to Armida, the other sorceresses were Medea in Teseo and Melissa in Amadigi di Gaula. The demands of these roles indicate that she had an exceptional voice capable of both dramatic power and technical agility. Near the end of Act II Armida is torn between grief and anger as she laments her failure to attract Rinaldo. ARMIDA: Ah! crudel, il pianto mio deh! ti mova per pietà! O infedel al mio desio proverai la crudeltà. Ah, cruel one, my tears please, may they move you to pity! Oh, unfaithful to my desire, you sha