Sheet Music Downloads by Georg Friedrich Händel

It is believed this cantata was written for Senesino when he arrived in England in 1720, however this volume was not complete until 1722.

The autograph would seem to identify this work as having an English provenance; corroborated by the lack of key signature in the recitative and highly embellished melodic style..

The style of this cantata points to an Italian provenance, due to the survival of a copy in an Italian manuscript.

Handel must have particularly enjoyed the light and airy first aria, as versions of it can be found in a number of his works, including Rodrigo, Io languisco, and Il pastor fido.

This aria has been dated to 1722, and, also like Deh! Lasciate, it may have been written for the castrato Senesino.