Mio diletto, mio sospiro

"Mio diletto, mio sospiro" (also "Mio diletto, mio respiro") is an aria from Franesco Cavalli's opera Elena. The author of the libretti is by Giovanni Faustini and Nicolò Minato who finished it after Faustini's death. The opera premiered at the Teatro San Cassiano in Venice on 26 December 1659.

The duet "Mio diletto, mio sospiro" appears at in Act III Scene I when Helen and Menelaos reconcile. Menelaos has much to account for: after all, charmed by Helen's beauty, he had taken on the guise of a battle-hardened Amazon to get close to her, to offer her combat training, a move which led to his own abduction by an enarmored Teseo.

"Mio diletto, mio sospiro" appears on the following album:

Year	Album	Ensemble
2017 (recorded)	Ombra mai fu (Album)	Ensemble Artaserse

Libretto

Mio diletto, mio sospiro

(My delight, my yearning)

from  Elena
Francesco Cavalli (music),  Giovanni Faustini, Nicolò Minato (words)

(Menelao)

‎

Modernized Italian

Menelao Ecco l'Idolo mio: come tornate Amica ò pur rubella? Che risolveste, ò bella? Elena A la vostra modestia, a vostro amore Cede vinto il mio core. Menelao Gradite i miei affetti? Elena Il centro sete voi de' miei diletti Menelao Deh baciar mi lasciate Queste nevi animate Questi candidi avori In testimon’ de' miei felici amori. Elena Da chi ci ha rapito Fuggir ci conviene; Menelao Sì, fuggirem’, mio bene. A2 Mio diletto, mio sospiro In te vivo, in te respiro, La mia gioia tu sarai Nel mio seno tu vivrai, Io tuo ben, tua vita io sono, L'anima ti consacro, il cor ti dono.

Ancient Italian

Menelao Ecco l'Idolo mio: come tornate Amica ò pur rubella? Che risolueste, ò bella? Elena A la vostra modestia, a vostro amore Cede vinto il mio core. Menelao Gradite i miei affetti? Elena Il centro sete voi de' miei diletti Menelao Deh bacciar mi lasciate Queste neui animae* Questi candidi avori In testimon de' miei felici amori. Elena Da chi ci hà rapito Fuggir ci conuiene ; Menelao Sì, fuggirem, mio bene. A2 Mio diletto, mio sospiro In te viuo, in te respiro, La mia gioia tu sarai Nel mio seno tu viurai, Io tuo ben, tua vita io sono, L'anima ti consacro, il cor ti dono. *) "neui" = "nevi"; "v" and "u" are often used interchangeably.

Menelaus Here is my Idol: how do you return A friend or a foe? How did you decide, oh beautiful one? Helen By your modesty, by your love My heart is vanquished. Menelaus Do you approve of my feelings? Elena You are the very core of my love. Menelaus Let me kiss The animated snow The pristine ivory In testimony of my blissful love. Helen From those who have abducted us We must flee; Menelaus Yes, we will escape, my love. A2 My delight, my yearning In you I live, in you I respire, My joy you will be In my bosom, you will live, I am your treasure I am your life, I consecrate my soul to you, I give you my heart.

Manuscripts and sheet music

Beginning of "Mio diletto mio respiro"

Free Libretto:

• Libretto at the Library of Congress

Cavalli, Pier Francesco. Elena : drama per mvsica nel Teatro à S. Cassano, per l'anno 1659. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek: Si vende da Giacomo Batti in frez., In Venetia, 1659, monographic. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.

All'Illustriss. & Eccellentiss. Sig. Angelo Morosini procurator di S. Marco.

Call Number/Physical Location: ML48 [S1746], Microfilm Music 1854, reel 37. Microfilm. Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, [197-]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

Sheet music:

• Modern Transcript

Kane, Kirsten (2006). "Francesco Cavalli's Elena (1659): A Study And Edition Volume 1". Cornell University. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.

• Manuscript

Originaler Titel: [reverse page:] Il rapimento d'Helena

Material: score: 174f.

Manuscript copy: 1640-1660 (17.me)

4 parts - vl 1, 2, vla, bc

Manuscript copy: 1640-1660; 1640-1660

other parts missing

Venezia, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (I-Vnm) It.IV,369