Lasciatemi Morire! (Medium High Voice), from 26 Italian Songs and Arias: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

This aria from Monteverdi's L'Arianna stands as one of the most emotionally direct pieces in the vocal repertoire, and having it in a medium high key makes it accessible to more singers while preserving its devastating power. The SoundTrax accompaniment frees you from needing a collaborative pianist, which matters when you're preparing for competitions, recitals, or auditions and need reliable, consistent support.

Stark and intimate, even when performed for an audience. The aria strips away pretense and asks you to sit with grief and longing, with moments of lyrical beauty that somehow deepen the sadness rather than relieve it. There's an almost conversational quality to Monteverdi's melodic writing that makes this feel confessional.

Singers preparing audition material, competing in vocal competitions, or building a recital program of early music. This works especially well for intermediate to advanced students who have the vocal control to navigate the emotional and technical demands of Baroque vocal writing.

• Resist the urge to rush through the opening phrase. The repetition of "Lasciatemi morire" gains its impact through space and breath, not speed.
• Shape the text as though you're speaking to the audience directly. This isn't a decorative aria; it's a plea. Your pronunciation and emotional clarity matter as much as your tone.
• Use the accompaniment as an anchor for your phrasing, but allow yourself slight flexibility in timing to let the character's despair breathe naturally.
• Balance the expressive, ornamented passages with clear articulation of the text. Coloratura serves the meaning here, not the other way around.

Program this alongside other early vocal masterworks for a recital that emphasizes historical depth, or use it as the emotional centerpiece of a mixed-era program. It pairs beautifully with later Italian vocal music that shows how composers continued to grapple with text expression.

• Baroque vocal ornamentation and phrasing
• Text-driven interpretation and emotional authenticity
• Managing sustained singing with limited vibrato
• Historical vocal style and articulation
• Independence from the accompaniment while maintaining ensemble connection