3 Duets

Steffani was much valued for his chamber duets and scherzo. Here are three which will delight sopranos looking for concert pieces. Although written for female voices, the ‘poet’ is a man, complaining about the contrariness of women.

Cangia, cangia pensier mio cor, takes a slightly negative view of the lover’s chances of pain free success, due, of course, to the girl’s intransigence. Nevertheless the music is rhythmic and lively, the soprano 1 solo almost jaunty.

Che sarà di quel pensier by contrast takes a rather wistful stance, hoping that the lover’s sighs will somehow travel on the breeze and reach the beloved, its long melismas suggestive of sighs.

Parlo e rido starts in a different vein, the lover boasting of philandering and having a good time of it, with rhythmic jig-like music, but eventually having to face the fact that he has fallen seriously for one lady, and it is no longer a joke.