Lascia ch'io pianga

[3] Four years after that, in 1711, Handel used the music again, this time for his London opera Rinaldo and its act 2 aria "Lascia ch'io pianga" ("Let me weep"), a heartfelt plea for her liberty addressed by the character Almirena to her abductor Argante.

The aria has since been recorded by many artists, and is featured in several films including Farinelli;[4] All Things Fair by Bo Widerberg;[5] L.I.E.

Chrysander claimed[8] to have worked from Handel's 'performance score' and stated that the autograph manuscript had been lost (although RISM state that the British Library hold a fragment of the autograph missing 53 bars);[9] Chrysander's edition shows two violins and a viola with a cello.

Handel's 1739 pasticcio Giove in Argo also has a "Lascia la spina" aria, but a shorter one, less known, and set to a different melody.

Almirena is addressing the Saracen king of Jerusalem, Argante, who is holding her prisoner and has just disclosed his passion at first sight for her.

[b] Rossi's Italian text Lascia ch'io pianga mia cruda sorte, e che sospiri la libertà.

Hill's original text Permit the wretched to complain Of their unhappy fate; The loss of liberty's a pain That should our sighs create.