Io v'amo, vita mia | Areté Singers

Areté Singers performs Victoria Aleotti's Io v'amo, vita mia at Trinity Concert Series at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasanton.
Music Director, Tim Salaver
Areté Singers Octet
Sopranos
Kristie Boering
Kealie Pretzlav
Tenors
David Knapp
Troy Turriate
Altos
Kayla Bojkovsky
Erica Dunkle
Basses
Phil Buonadonna
Julian Nesbitt
Lute - Matthew Xie
Vittoria Aleotti (c. 1575-after 1620) Aleotti’s madrigal "Io v'amo, vita mia" highlights the emotional depth and expressive potential of vocal music. Her contributions as a female composer in a predominantly male field challenged gender norms and paved the way for future generations of women in music.
Io v’amo, vita mia,
volli sovente dire ed ardo ahi lasso.
Chiuse la voc’entro
le labbi amore
e vergogna e timore
e mi cangiar d’huom vivo in muto sasso.
Amor, ma se to vuoi ch’i miei martiri,
Io pur taccia e sospiri.
Tu dilli à lei!
che mi consuma e sface;
e le riscalda il sen con la tua face.
“I love you, my life,
and my love burns me up."
I often tried to say this,
but Love locked my lips
and shame and fear
changed me into a dumb stone.
Love, if I must suffer,
I will stay silent, and sigh;
but, Love, talk to her!
Tell her she undoes me;
and kindle her heart with your torch!