Ex. 2-1: Lascia ch'io pianga (Aria)

This melody was reused several times by Handel. It first appeared as a sarabande in Handel's 1705 opera Almira, then became the aria "Lascia la spina, cogli la rosa" (Leave the Thorn, Take the Rose) in his 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.

Four years later, in 1711, Handel used the music once more for his London opera Rinaldo, where it became "Lascia ch'io pianga" — a plea for freedom sung by the captive Almirena to her abductor Argante, the Saracen king of Jerusalem. Rinaldo was a triumph, and it is with this work that the aria became famous. Handel completed the entire opera in just 14 days.

The aria is a da capo aria — in Baroque performance practice, the singer was expected to add improvised ornamentation when the opening section returns.

"Let me weep over my cruel fate, and let me sigh for liberty. May sorrow shatter these chains, out of pity alone."

The aria has been featured in several films, including Farinelli (1994), and has been widely recorded since the 18th century.

Track 3 from the album Rapture - Opera's Most Heavenly Moments by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Christopher Hogwood and Academy of Ancient Music (2002)
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