G.B. Bononcini - Siedi, amarilli - G. Lesne (1 of 2)

Giovanni Battista Bononcini
Siedi, Amarilli mia


Forces: alto, violins & continuo

A cantata for solo alto voice with a complicated structure. The story deals with the pain of love and includes a dialogue between the lovers Amarilli and Fileno (though sung by the same voice). It starts with a two-part opening prelude. The first aria sighs, alternating with recitative, the second is sobbing and the third is sprightly.


In this recording:

Gérard Lesne "Amarilli"
Il Seminario Musicale
Virgin Classics - Veritas (1993)


Video Part I:

1. Preludio
2. Aria: Siedi, Amarilli mia
3. Arioso: Io ti miro

Video Part II:

4. Recitativo: Ah! sì che i tuoi begl'occhi
5. Aria: Se scherza e ride


*Thank you, my Marc, for all your help with the text*

Original Text:

Aria:

"Siedi, Amarilli mia,
siedi e m'ascolta.
Qui lungi io dal timor,
tu dalla noia de' rivali pastori;
ragionar ben potrem' de' nostri amori.
Non v'è chi n'oda o chi favelli intorno,
né chi di gelosia tinto ne guardi.
Siedi, Amarilli mia,
siedi, che tardi?

Quest'erbe, questi fior, questi ruscelli,
e quest'amene collinette apriche,
che fur gran tempo a miei sospiri amiche
e pietose al mio pianto,
sol mi vedranno a te sedere accanto.
Lascia ch'io parli almen solo una volta.
Siedi, Amarilli mia,
siedi e m'ascolta.

Arioso:

Io ti miro e poi sospiro.
Dir vorrei e dir non so.
Sì confonde il labbro e il cor
e smarrita l'alma aita
chieder tenta e poi non può.
Ahi che pena, ahi che dolor!"



***

Translation (by Peter Vogelpoel):


Aria:

'Sit beside me, my Amaryllis,
sit beside me and listen.
Here I can escape my fears,
and you avoid my troublesome rivals;
we can speak openly of our love.
No one will hear us or speak nearby,
or look upon us with jealousy.
Sit beside me, my Amaryllis;
come, why do you tarry?

This grass, those flowers, those books
and those charming sunlit hillsides,
for so long companions to my sighs
and sympathetic to my tears,
only they will see me sit beside you.
Let me speak to you alone but once.
Sit beside me, my Amaryllis,
sit beside me and listen.

Arioso:

I look at you and sigh,
I want to speak but cannot.
My lips and heart are overcome
and my distraught soul cries
for help, then can cry no more.
O what pain, what anguish!'