Sovra molle origliere

This cantata, from an important manuscript in Berlin containing 18 Albinoni cantatas for soprano and continuo, is on a more serious subject than most. Standing at the deathbed of Lidio, who has undeviatingly loved her without reciprocation all his life, Clori is stricken by remorse at her ingratitude and enjoins others to surrender to Cupid. As usual, Albinoni does not wallow in the lachrymose, but there is an affecting tenderness that suffuses the whole cantata.