Come oscurato

Stefano Bernardi, a composer of the early Baroque era, wrote this evocative Italian solo soprano piece. Part of his sacred madrigal output, it explores the dramatic contrast between expectation and reality. The text laments a beloved's hair, which the singer had hoped would turn to gold or silver, a symbol of noble ageing. Instead, it remains a vibrant red, described as 'vermilion roses'. This vibrant colour, however, brings only 'prickly thorns' to the singer's heart, highlighting a painful unfulfilled desire. Bernardi’s setting likely employs the expressive musical language of the madrigal tradition to convey these strong emotions.