Monteverdi's setting of Carlo Milanuzzi's text in the solo madrigal Si dolce e'l tormento conveys a wide

range of emotion that belies its simple strophic form. It appeared in the composer’s Scherzi musicali of
1632.

This exquisite work was not originally in the plans for Magnificat's November, 2004 program "A Due
Voci Pari", but during the rehearsals for those concerts, David Tayler suggested that we add it. After one
run-through in the dress rehearsal it was clear that this would become one of the most memorable of all
Magnificat performances.

Lyrics

Si dolce è’l tormento

Text by Carlo Milanuzzi

Si dolce è’l tormento So sweet is the torment

Ch’in seno mi sta, in my breast
Ch’io vivo contento that happily do I live
Per cruda beltà. for cruel beauty.
Nel ciel di bellezza In the heaven of beauty
S’accreschi fierezza let cruelty grow
Et manchi pietà: and mercy be lacking:
Che sempre qual scoglio for my faith will always
All’onda d’orgoglio be as a rock,
Mia fede sarà. in the face of pride.

La speme fallace Let deceitful hope

Rivolgam’ il piè. turn away from me,
Diletto ne pace let neither joy nor peace
Non scendano a me. descend on me.
E l’empia ch’adoro And let the wicked girl
Mi nieghi ristoro whom I adore
Di buona mercè: deny me the solace
Tra doglia infinita, of sweet mercy:
Tra speme tradita amid infinite pain,
Vivrà la mia fè amid hope betrayed,
my faith will survive.
Se fiamma d’amore
Già mai non sentì The hard heart
Quel riggido core that stole mine away
Ch’il cor mi rapì, has never felt love’s flame.
Se nega pietate The cruel beauty
La cruda beltate that charmed my soul
Che l’alma invaghì: withholds mercy,
Ben fia che dolente, so let it suffer,
Pentita e languente repentant and languishing, and
Sospirimi un dì. let it sigh one day for me.