Felici Colli e tu Fiume

Sing this delightful madrigal on a warm summer day, when the natural world is at its most vibrant. Luzzasco Luzzaschi's SATTB setting of Italian secular verse paints a vivid picture of the poet's admiration for nature's beauty, personified by a beloved individual. The text speaks of happy hills and blessed rivers, illuminated by a sun-like gaze. Yet, the poet's own eyes, upon seeing this person, are transformed into Medusa's, turning him into stone and weeping. This poignant contrast between external joy and internal despair is masterfully captured in the rich vocal textures of this Renaissance part-song.