Quest'e l'ora fatale

This cantata, from an important manuscript in Berlin containing 18 Albinoni cantatas for soprano and continuo, is on the subject of the parting of lovers. Dalinda, forced to part from Tirsi, vows fidelity to him and asks for the same in return. With not only two da capo arias but also a final cavata (a fugue-like section), this is one of Albinoni’s more extended chamber cantatas, full of harmonic and tonal variety.