Ardo, sì, ma non t'amo

Rudolph di Lasso’s Ardo, sì, ma non t’amo is a secular Italian madrigal for SATTB voices. The text, set by Guarini, expresses a complex emotion: the singer burns with passion, but not for the beloved, who is described as perfidious and ungrateful. The singer declares that their heart is now healed and any burning they feel is from disdain, not love. Lasso masterfully captures the dramatic shifts in sentiment through his word-painting, creating a vivid sonic landscape for this exploration of unrequited or rejected affection. This polyphonic setting offers a rich textural experience, ideal for a choir seeking to explore the expressive possibilities of the Renaissance madrigal tradition.