
AMANTI
AMANTI
Lovers – just one word, yet it represents a whole spectrum of emotions: from attraction, passion and tenderness to doubt, fear, jealousy and even cruelty. Love is full of contrasts, and this emotional journey comes to life in the music of Bettina Simon and nuovo barocco.
Featuring works by B. Ferrari, D. Gabrielli, G. Kapsberger, T. Merula, C. Monteverdi, G.A. Pandolfi Mealli and A. Stradella, this program explores love in its many shades. A lively mix of instruments reveals the beauty, depth and intensity of what it means to love - in all its forms.
THE VISION OF A SINGER AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST
Bettina Simon's unique specialization is a rare find in today's world of classical music. Her versatility and artistic curiosity reveal themselves in the expressive way she combines singing, baroque oboe and recorder. Mastering multiple instruments allows her to explore various musical colors and ideas, with her voice adding a personal, emotional touch. Each member of nuovo barocco is featured as a soloist on the album, highlighting their remarkable individual talents - an essential element of the Amanti concept.
ENSEMBLE NUOVO BAROCCO
Together with violinist Dimitris Karakantas, Bettina Simon founded the young, dynamic baroque orchestra nuovo barocco in Vienna in 2018. They have performed at major festivals and in important concert halls, including the Vienna Musikverein, Brucknerhaus Linz and as part of the Bach Festival Lausanne, Les Grands Concerts de Lyon, Festival du Froville Musique Sacrée et Baroque and Bayreuth Baroque a.o. Their aim is to approach baroque music with a fresh perspective, creating an exciting and innovative sound.
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AMANTI
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Benedetto Ferrari (1603-1681): Amanti, io vi sò dire
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Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): Damigella tutta bella
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Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Mealli (1624-1687): Sonata Prima “La Stella”
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Alessandro Stradella (1643-1682): Così amor mi fai languir
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Iason Marmaras (*1987): Improvisation
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Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665): Ciaccona
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Girolamo Kapsberger (1580-1651): Toccata Terza
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Claudio Monteverdi: Si dolce è'l tormento
9 - 12. Domenico Gabrielli (1651-1690): Sonata Prima
13. Claudio Monteverdi: Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti
© 2025 ossa
ARTISTS
Bettina Simon • Soprano, Baroque Oboe, Recorder, Artistic Direction
Dimitris Karakantas • Baroque Violin
Michal Stahel • Baroque Cello
Jakub Mitrík • Lute, Baroque Guitar
Iason Marmaras • Harpsichord
Alois Mühlbacher • Countertenor
LYRICS AND TRANSLATIONS
Benedetto Ferrari
AMANTI, IO VI SÒ DIRE
Amanti, io vi so dire
ch’è meglio assai fuggire
bella Donna vezzosa
ò sia cruda ò pietosa
ad ogni modo e via
il morir per amor è una pazzia.
Non accade pensare
di gioir in amare,
amoroso contento
dedicato è al momento
e bella Donna al fine
rose non dona mai senza le spine.
La speme del gioire
fondata è sù’l martire,
bellezza e cortesia
non stanno in compagnia,
sò ben dir con mio danno
che la morte ed’amor insieme vanno.
Vi vuol pianti a diluvi
per spegner i vesuvi
d’un cor innamorato,
d’un spirito infiammato;
pria che si giunga in porto,
quante volte si dice:
ohimè son morto.
Credete’l à costui che per prova può dir
io vidi io fui. Se creder no’l volete
lasciate star che poco importa à me.
Seguitate ad’amar ad’ogni modo,
chi dè rompersi il collo.
Non accade che schivi.
Od’erta ò fondo
che per proverbio senti sempre dire
dal destinato non si può fuggire.
Donna so chi tu sei,
amor so i fatti miei.
Non tresco più con voi,
alla larga ambi doi.
S’ogn’un fosse com’io
saria un balordo Amor e non un Dio.
Text: Benedetto Ferrari
Claudio Monteverdi
DAMIGELLA TUTTA BELLA
Damigella tutta bella
versa versa quel bel vino,
fa che cada la rugiada
distillata di rubino.
Hó nel seno rio veneno
che vi sparse Amor profondo
ma gittarlo e lasciarlo
vó sommerso in questo fondo.
Ah, che spento io non sento
Il furor de gl’ardor miei,
Men cocenti, meno ardenti
Sono, ohimè, gli incendi etnei.
Damigella tutta bella
di quel vin tu non mi satzi
fá che cada la rugiada
distillata da topatzi.
Nova fiamma più m'infiamma
arde il cor foco novello
se mia vita non s'aita
ah ch'io vengo un Mongibello!
Ma più fresca ogn' hor cresca
dentro me si fatta arsura
consumarmi e disfarmi
per tal modo hó per ventura.
Text: Gabriello Chiabrera
Alessandro Stradella
COSÌ, AMOR, MI FAI LANGUIR
Così, Amor, mi fai languir.
Non è mio ciò che desio;
Chi mi fugge seguir deggio,
E chi si strugge nel mio foco ho da fuggir.
Così, Amor, mi fai languir.
Così, amor, mi fai penar.
Non mi dai chi tanto amai;
Il mio bene scacciar deggio
E mi conviene chi non amo pur amar.
Così, Amor, mi fai penar.
Text: Alessandro Stradella
Claudio Monteverdi
SÌ DOLCE È'L TORMENTO
Sì dolce è’l tormento
Ch’in seno mi sta,
Ch’io vivo contento
Per cruda beltà.
Nel ciel di bellezza
S’accreschi fierezza
Et manchi pietà:
Che sempre qual scoglio
All’onda d’orgoglio
Mia fede sarà.
La speme fallace
Rivolgam’ il piè,
Diletto ne pace
Non scendano a me,
E l’empia ch’adoro
Mi nieghi ristoro
Di buona mercè:
Tra doglia infinita
Tra speme tradita
Vivrà la mia fè.
Per foco, e per gelo
riposo non hò
nel porto del Cielo
riposo haverò.
Se colpo mortale
con rigido strale
il cor m'impiagò,
cangiando mia sorte
col dardo di morte
il cor sanerò.
Se fiamma d’Amore
Già mai non sentì
Quel riggido core
Ch’il cor mi rapì,
Se nega pietate
La cruda beltate
Che l’alma invaghì
Ben fia che dolente,
Pentita, e languente
Sospirimi un dì.
Text: Carlo Milanuzzi
Claudio Monteverdi
ZEFIRO TORNA E DI SOAVI ACCENTI
Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti
l’aer fa grato e’il piè discioglie a l’onde
e, mormorando tra le verdi fronde,
fa danzar al bel suon su’l prato i fiori.
Inghirlandato il crin Fillide e Clori
note temprando amor care e gioconde;
e da monti e da valli ime e profonde
raddoppian l’armonia gli antri canori.
Sorge più vaga in ciel l’aurora, e’l sole,
sparge più luci d’or; più puro argento
fregia di Teti il bel ceruleo manto.
Sol io, per selve abbandonate e sole,
l’ardor di due begli occhi e’l mio tormento,
come vuol mia ventura, hor piango hor canto.
Text: Ottavio Rinuccini
Lovers, I can tell you,
that it’s far better to flee
from a charming lady,
be she cruel or merciful.
In every manner and way
it’s folly to die for love.
It’s mistaken to think
that loving makes you happy,
the contentment of love
is a momentary matter,
and a beautiful woman
will never give roses without thorns.
Hope for joy
is built on torment,
beauty and courtesy
do not agree.
I know from bitter experience
that love and death go together.
Only floods of tears
can extinguish the volcano
of a loving heart,
of a burning spirit.
Before sailing into the harbour,
one often exclaims:
Oh my, I’m done for!
Believe the man who speaks from experience: I saw, I was there.
If you don’t wish to believe it, then let it be,
I do not care: continue to love.
For a man destined to break his neck
will not avoid
ravines or pitfalls.
I’ve always heard it said
there's no escaping one's fate.
Lady, I know your kind of woman.
Cupid, I’ve made up my mind.
I’ll have no more to do with you,
keep your distance, both of you!
If everyone were as I am,
Cupid would be a blockhead, not a god!
Translation: Ensemble Mirabilia
Damsel, fair and pretty,
pour, pour that good wine
make the ruby dew fall.
In my breast I carry an evil poison,
sown there by deep Love.
But now I will throw it away
and leave it submerged in this sediment.
Ah, I do not feel
that the fury of my ardour is extinguished.
Alas, Etna’s fires are less scorching
and less searing.
Damsel, fair and pretty,
you do not satiate me
with that good wine,
make the topaz dew fall.
A new flame inflames me more,
a new fire burns my heart,
if my life does not help itself,
ah, may I become a volcano!
But ever more freshly grows
within me such a burning thirst
to consume and undo myself
in this way, I find my fortune.
Translation: Elizabeth Cencetti
Thus, Cupid, you let me yearn.
What I desire is not mine;
who flees from me I must follow,
and who burns in my fire, from him must I flee.
Thus, Cupid, you let me yearn.
Thus, Cupid, you let me suffer.
You don not give me the one I loved so dearly;
I must cast aside all happiness
and love the one I do not love.
Thus, Cupid, you let me suffer.
Translation: Knud Jeppesen (edit.)
So sweet is the torment
That lies in my heart,
That I can live content
With unfeeling, infatuating beauty.
In this earthly paradise
Vanity grows
And piety fades:
Yet like a rock
Against the wave of pride
My faith will always hold fast.
False hope
Turns away from me,
Neither pleasure nor peace
Descend upon me,
And the unholy woman I adore
Does not grant me the relief
Of her favour:
Amidst infinite pain
Amidst forlorn hope
My faith will live on.
From fire and ice
I have no respite
but at heaven’s gates
I will find peace.
If the fatal blow
of an unwavering arrow
pierced my heart,
overturning my fate
brought by death’s dart
I will heal my heart.
If the flame of love
Has never yet been felt
By the hard heart
That has stolen my own,
If I am shown no pity
By the cruel siren
That has enchanted my soul:
Then let it be that one day,
Languishing in pain and repentance,
She will sigh for me.
Translation: Nicholas Cornforth
Zephyr returns, and with sweet accents
enchants the air and ruffles the waves,
and murmuring among the green leaves,
makes the flowers dance to his sweet sound.
With garlanded hair, Phyllis and Chloris sing
love-songs, dear and joyful to them,
and through the mountains and valleys, high
and low, the echoing caves redouble their music.
Dawn rises more glorious in the sky,
and the sun pours down the brightest gold,
embellishing with purer silver the sky-blue mantle of Thetis.
Alone I wander through lonely and deserted woods;
of the ardour of two lovely eyes, and of my torment,
as my fortune decrees, I by turns weep and sing.
Translation: James Halliday
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