Donna bella

The composer asks a beloved lady to grant him joy, stating that he loves and desires her so much that he forgets all else, even himself. He pleads with her not to let him live in such sorrow, but rather to grant him everlasting happiness with a single 'yes'. This secular Italian madrigal for STTB voices embodies the heightened emotional expression characteristic of the genre. Verdonck masterfully sets the text, exploring the passionate plea of the lover and the desired response from his lady. The intimate four-part setting allows for rich harmonic colour and contrapuntal interplay, bringing the dramatic text to life.