Hello friends,

I deliberated long and hard before suggesting that some of you might
enjoy this piece, by Vivaldi, in the opera "Bajezet".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr3WNaMJMA8&mode=related&search=

The title literally means, "I am wife and I am scorned."

Here is a translation of some of the powerful and emotional lyrics
from the Italian:

I am wife and I am scorned,
I am faithful and I'm outraged.
Heavens, what have I done?
And yet he is my heart,
my husband, my love,
my hope.

I love him, but he is unfaithful,
I hope, but he is cruel,
will he let me die?
O God, valor is missing -
valor and constancy.

I see this scenario played out hundreds of times every year in the
courts. Just remember, divorce was not so readily available in the
17th and 18th centuries.

There is some controversy about the real composer of this work, even
though it is attributed to Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), aka the "Red
Priest". Many, if not most scholars say that Francisco Gaspirini wrote
it. The libretto is attributed to Antonio Piovene.

Enjoy!

Will, T2