Moving further into opera.

[Mozart]

I can enjoy a baroque opera without knowing the plot at all. In fact, I know the plot of very few baroque operas. Learning the words to the arias adds pleasure because I can focus on the music instead of understanding what the singers are saying. But Vivaldi never makes it easy for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/WbQQ5W1Zxgk

Recitativo
Tra te follie diverse
de qual ripieno è il mondo
chi può negar, che la follia maggiore
in ciascuno non sia quella d'amore.


Aria
Siam navi all' onde algenti
lasciate in abbandono
impetuosi venti i nostri affetti sono,
ogni diletto è scoglio,
tutta la vita un mar.

Ben qual nocchiero in noi
veglia ragion ma poi
pur dal' ondoso orgoglio
si lascia trasportar.


Recitative
Of all the many follies
of which the world is full,
who can deny that the greatest folly
in anyone is that of Love?


Aria
We are like ships on the silver waves,
drifting out of control;
like capricious winds are our affections,
every pleasure is a rock,
the whole of life a sea.

Like a steersman reason
keeps good watch over us, but then
on the swell of pride
we let ourselves be carried away.