Di tante ree sciagure

This cantata, from an important manuscript in Berlin containing 18 Albinoni cantatas for soprano and continuo, is on the ever-popular subject of the separation of lovers. It records the departure of Irene from ‘Adria’ the conventional Arcadian code-word for Venice and doubtless was written to commemorate a genuine parting of, say, members of a court. Throughout, Albinoni maintains the simple, lightly elegiac mood that is the hallmark of his style.