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 (The Triumph of Time and Disillusion).

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

The aria is a da capo aria — the opening section is repeated at the end, and the singer was expected to add their own decoration to the melody the second time.

"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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