Lascia ch’io pianga

“Lascia ch’io pianga”: “Let Me, in Weeping” sung by Joshua Law with Judy Lee on the piano

The melody was first found in act 3 of Handel’s 1705 opera Almira, as a sarabande. (sarabande: a slow, stately Spanish dance in triple time. a piece of music written for the saraband.)

Lyrics:

Lascia ch’io piangamia cruda sorte,

e che sospiri la libertà.

Il duolo infrangaqueste ritorte,

de’ miei martirisol per pietà.

Literal translation:

Let me weep over my cruel fate,

and let me sigh for liberty.

May sorrow shatter these chains,

for my torments just out of pity.