Il lume del mio riso

Carlotta Ferrari sets a poignant Italian text in this secular SATB work. The words explore a cherished memory of joy, comparing it to a warm light on the face. This inner light, once shared and reflected in another's happiness, eventually fades with the onset of hardship, leaving the singer exposed to a 'storm'. Ferrari's setting captures the arc of this emotional journey, moving from light and warmth to a starker, more dramatic expression as the 'light of my laughter' dies. The piece offers a rich opportunity for expressive vocal colour and dynamic contrast, exploring the profound contrast between past happiness and present sorrow.