Racconsolata, e paga torna a l’etra Giunone’ from La Calisto

‘Racconsolata, e paga torna a l’etra Giunone’ from La Calisto

Francesco Cavalli was one of Italy’s most important 17th century composers. He is often said to have been responsible for popularising the relatively new genre of opera, and by his death in 1676 opera had taken centre stage as the most fashionable musical spectacle in Italy and abroad. The aria ‘Racconsolata, e paga torna a l’etra Giunone’ is from Act II of La Calisto, one of Cavalli’s best known operas. Although not hugely successful during its first run of performances in 1651, La Calisto became popular during the 1970’s revival of early Italian operas. This aria is sung by the character of Giunone, wife of an unfaithful husband, who has taken revenge on her rival Calisto by turning her into a bear.

– Flavia Hirte