Ardo sì, ma non t'amo I

This dramatic SSATB madrigal from the Italian Renaissance is a potent expression of conflicted emotion. The text, penned by Guarini, paints a picture of unrequited or perhaps betrayed love, where the singer experiences intense burning (ardo sì) but claims it is not love (ma non t’amo). The words speak of a perfidious and pitiless beloved, unworthy of a loyal lover, and a heart now healed, burning only with disdain and not with affection. Gioseffo Ascanio’s setting captures this complex sentiment with the rich polyphony characteristic of the genre, making it a compelling choice for secular programming where powerful textual interpretation is desired.