Ardo, sì, ma non t'amo

This striking secular madrigal for SATTB voices sets a Petrarchan sonnet by Guarini. The text expresses a complex emotional state: the singer burns with passion, but not for the beloved. Instead, the fire is one of disdain for a perfidious and pitiless woman, unworthily loved by a loyal admirer. The lover asserts that he will no longer boast of his sorrow, for his heart is now healed, burning only with scorn, not love. Giovanni Maria Bononcini's setting masterfully captures the dramatic contrasts and intense emotions of the text, making it a powerful statement for an experienced choir.