Aria: Pur alfin gentil viola… Largo ed appuntato

Ariosti: Pur alfin gentil viola. A cantata for solo voice and viola d‘amore. Here the humble and constant violet prevails over the proud and haughty rose. To Georgi, and possibly to Ariosti himself, the violet by association comes to represent the viola d'amore, and all the greater is the joy as the cantata text proclaims it 'Regina del Prato' - Queen of the Meadow!
With Emma Kirkby, soprano; Thomas Georgi, viola d'amore; Lucas Harris, archlute & baroque guitar; Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann, violoncello.
DDD recording.