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Lea Desandre

Biography (read more)

Lea Desandre (born 1993 in Paris) is a French-Italian operatic mezzo-soprano, born to a French father and an Italian mother. She trained in dance as a child before joining the children’s choir of the Opéra national de Paris at age twelve. She later moved to Venice to train under Sara Mingardo, and joined William Christie’s Jardin des Voix young-artist programme in 2015, going on to perform at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2016 and make her Salzburg Festival debut in 2018.

Desandre has established herself as one of the leading voices in early-music and Baroque performance, with the New York Times writing in 2022 that she “has established herself as one of today’s most exciting voices in early-music performance.” She was named Female Singer of the Year at the 2022 Opus Klassik awards and won the Prix de la Critique in 2024, and is noted for her regular chamber-music collaborations with lutenist Thomas Dunford and his Jupiter Ensemble.

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Repertoire

“Guardian Angels, Oh, Protect Me” (The Triumph of Time and Truth, HWV 71)— George Frideric Handel
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Mitilene, regina delle amazzoni: “Io piango” – “Io peno”— Giuseppe De Bottis
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Per abbatter il rigore”— George Frideric Handel, with Sabine Devieilhe & Le Concert d’Astrée
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Theodora, HWV 68, Act 2: Duet, “To thee, thou glorious son of worth”— George Frideric Handel, with Iestyn Davies
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Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV 74: “Eternal Source of Light Divine”— George Frideric Handel, with Thomas Dunford, Jupiter & Iestyn Davies
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Dido and Aeneas: Dido’s Lament (“When I Am Laid in Earth”)— Henry Purcell, with Thomas Dunford & Jupiter
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L’Antiope: Act III, Final Scene: “Vieni, corri, volami in braccio”— Carlo Pallavicino
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “È un foco quel d’amore”— George Frideric Handel
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Semele, HWV 58, Act 3: “No, No, I’ll Take No Less”— George Frideric Handel, with Thomas Dunford & Jupiter
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The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Now the Night Is Chased Away”— Henry Purcell, with Thomas Dunford & Jupiter
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L’Antiope: “Sdegni, furori barbari”— Carlo Pallavicino
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First Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 1, Come Again! Sweet Love Doth Now Invite— John Dowland
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Lachrimae, or Seven Tears: No. 10, Semper Dowland, semper dolens, P. 9— John Dowland
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First Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 9, Go Crystal Tears— John Dowland
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Lachrimae, or Seven Tears: No. 12, The King of Denmark’s Galliard, P. 40— John Dowland
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First Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 5, Can She Excuse My Wrongs?— John Dowland
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Lachrimae, or Seven Tears: No. 2, Lachrimae antiquae— John Dowland
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A Dream, P. 75— John Dowland
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Second Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 3, Sorrow, Stay— John Dowland
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Lachrimae, or Seven Tears: No. 14, The Earl of Essex Galliard, P. 42— John Dowland
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Second Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 2, Flow My Tears— John Dowland
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Frog Galliard, P. 23— John Dowland
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First Book of Songs or Ayres: No. 6, Now, o Now, I Needs Must Part— John Dowland
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The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: If Love’s a Sweet Passion— Henry Purcell
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Come, Ye Sons of Art Away, Z. 323: V. Strike the Viol— Henry Purcell
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O Solitude, My Sweetest Choice, Z. 406— Henry Purcell
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An Evening Hymn on a Ground, Z. 193— Henry Purcell
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The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: Chaconne— Henry Purcell
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The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: O Let Me Weep, For Ever Weep— Henry Purcell
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626: Overture— Henry Purcell
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act I: Ah Belinda!— Henry Purcell
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act II: Echo Dances of Furies— Henry Purcell
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act II: Thanks to These Lonesome Vales— Henry Purcell
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act III: The Witches’s Dance— Henry Purcell
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act III: Thy Hand, Belinda— Henry Purcell
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Take Me Back to You— Doug Balliett
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Le doux silence de nos bois— Honoré d’Ambruys
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Études latines: No. 2, Néère— Reynaldo Hahn
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Le temps de l’amour— Jacques Dutronc
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6 Gnossiennes: No. 1, Lent— Érik Satie
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Celle qui fait tout mon tourment, H. 450— Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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Auprès du feu l’on fait l’amour, H. 446— Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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Tristes déserts, sombre retraite, H. 469— Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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L’Amour masqué, Act 1: “J’ai deux amants” (Elle)— André Messager
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3 Gymnopédies: No. 1, Lent et douloureux (Perf. by Theorbo)— Érik Satie
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Ma bergère est tendre et fidèle— Michel Lambert
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À Chloris— Reynaldo Hahn
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Sans frayeur dans ce bois, H. 467— Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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Suite No. 7 en ré mineur: III. Sarabande— Robert de Visée
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Le premier bonheur du jour— Jean Renard
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On n’entend rien dans ce bocage— Sébastien Le Camus
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Pelléas et Mélisande, CD 93, L. 88, Act 3: “Mes longs cheveux descendent” (Mélisande)— Claude Debussy
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Ombre de mon amant— Michel Lambert
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Vos mépris chaque jour— Michel Lambert
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Suite No. 7 en ré mineur: V. Chaconne— Robert de Visée
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Dis, quand reviendras-tu ?— Barbara
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Laissez durer la nuit— Sébastien Le Camus
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La Belle Hélène, Act 1: “Amours divins !” (Hélène)— Jacques Offenbach
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Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV 74: “Eternal Source of Light Divine”— George Frideric Handel
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Theodora, HWV 68, Act 2: “With Darkness Deep, as Is My Woe” (Theodora)— George Frideric Handel
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The Choice of Hercules, HWV 69: “Yet, Can I Hear That Dulcet Lay” (Hercules)— George Frideric Handel
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Hercules, HWV 60, Act 2: “Joys of Freedom” (Dejanira, Iole)— George Frideric Handel
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Theodora, HWV 68, Act 1: “As With Rosy Steps the Morn” (Irene)— George Frideric Handel
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Semele, HWV 58, Act 3: “Despair No More Shall Wound Me” (Athamas)— George Frideric Handel
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Solomon, HWV 67, Act 3: “Will the Sun Forget to Streak” (Queen of Sheba)— George Frideric Handel
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Susanna, HWV 66, Act 3: “To My Chaste Susanna’s Praise” (Joacim, Susanna)— George Frideric Handel
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Joseph and His Brethren, HWV 59, Act 3: “Prophetic Raptures Swell My Breast” (Asenath)— George Frideric Handel
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Theodora, HWV 68, Act 3: “Thither Let Our Hearts Aspire!” (Theodora, Didymus)— George Frideric Handel
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Suite No. 4 in D Minor, HWV 437: III. Sarabande (Arr. Halliday)— George Frideric Handel
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Semele, HWV 58, Act 2: “Prepare, Then, Ye Immortal Choir” (Semele, Ino)— George Frideric Handel
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Semele, HWV 58, Act 2: “Hence, Iris, Hence Away” (Juno)— George Frideric Handel
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Occasional Oratorio, HWV 62, Pt. 1: “Fly from the Threat’ning Vengeance, Fly!”— George Frideric Handel
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Semele, HWV 58, Act 1: “You’ve Undone Me” (Ino, Athamas)— George Frideric Handel
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Esther, HWV 50b, Act 2: “Who Calls My Parting Soul from Death?” (Esther, Ahasuerus)— George Frideric Handel
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Semele, HWV 58, Act 2: “But Hark, the Heav’nly Sphere Turns Round” (Ino)— George Frideric Handel
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That’s so You— Doug Balliett
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Lo schiavo di sua moglie: “Non posso far” (Lucillo)— Francesco Provenzale
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Ercole amante: Sinfonia to Act 1— Francesco Cavalli
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Lo schiavo di sua moglie: “Lasciatemi morir, stelle crudeli” (Menalippa)— Francesco Provenzale
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Mitilene, regina delle amazzoni: “Muove il piè, furia d’Averno” (Mitilene)— Giovanni Buonaventura Viviani
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Mitilene, regina delle amazzoni: “Io piango” – “Io peno” (Mitilene, Armidoro)— Giuseppe De Bottis
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Die getreue Alceste: Sinfonia pour la tempête (1719 Hamburg Version)— Georg Caspar Schürmann
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L’Antiope, Act 2: “Vieni, corri, volami in braccio” (Antiope)— Carlo Pallavicino
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L’Antiope: “Sdegni, furori barbari” (Celinda)— Carlo Pallavicino
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Les Amazones: “Venez, troupe guerrière” – “Puisque tout est tranquille” – “Combattons, courrons…— André Danican Philidor
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Passacaille in C Major— Louis Couperin
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Marthésie, première reine des amazones: “Faible fierté, gloire impuissante” (Thalestris)— André Cardinal Destouches
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Pièces de viole, Livre IV, Suitte d’un goût étranger: No. 68, L’Amériquaine— Marin Marais
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Marthésie, première reine des amazones: “Ô mort ! Ô triste mort” (Thalestris)— André Cardinal Destouches
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Postlude improvisé— Jean Rondeau
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Second Livre de pièces de clavecin, Dixième Ordre: VI. L’Amazône— François Couperin
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Marthésie, première reine des amazones: “Quel coup me réservait la colère céleste ?”…— André Cardinal Destouches
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Ercole sul Termodonte, RV 710, Sinfonia: I. Allegro— Antonio Vivaldi
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Mitilene, regina delle amazzoni: “Che farai misero core” (Mitilene)— Giuseppe De Bottis
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Die getreue Alceste: “Non ha fortuna il pianto mio” (Hyppolite)— Georg Caspar Schürmann
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Ercole sul Termodonte, RV 710, Sinfonia: II. [Andante]— Antonio Vivaldi
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Mitilene, regina delle amazzoni: “Lieti fiori, erbe odorose” (Mitilene)— Giuseppe De Bottis
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Mitilene, regina delle amazzoni: “Sdegno all’armi, alle vendette” (Mitilene)— Giuseppe De Bottis
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Ercole sul Termodonte, RV 710, Sinfonia: III. Allegro— Antonio Vivaldi
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Ercole sul Termodonte, RV 710, Act 2: “Onde chiare che sussurrate” (Ippolita)— Antonio Vivaldi
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Ercole sul Termodonte, RV 710: “Scenderò, volerò, griderò” (Antiope)— Antonio Vivaldi
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Amazones— Thomas Dunford
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Arresta, arresta il passo” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Fermati, non fuggir!” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Questa sol volta almeno” (Aminta, Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Fiamma bella ch’al ciel s’invia” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Credi a’ miei detti, Aminta” (Fillide, Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Forse ch’un giorno” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Invano, invan presumi” (Fillide, Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Fu scherzo, fu gioco” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Libero piè fugga dal laccio” (Fillide, Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Se vago rio fra sassi” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “D’un incognito foco gìa sento” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Sento ch’il Dio bambin” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Felicissimo punto” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “A dispetto di sorte crudele” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Vincesti, Aminta” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “È un foco quel d’amore” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Gloria bella di Aminta” (Aminta, Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Chi ben ama non paventi” (Aminta)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “E pur, Filli vezzosa” (Aminta, Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Non si può dar un cor sì felice in amor” (Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “O felice in amor dolce tormento” (Aminta, Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83: “Per abbatter il rigore” (Aminta, Fillide)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “Dietro l’orme fugaci” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “Ah crudele! E pur ten’ vai” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “Per te mi struggo, infido” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “O voi, dell’incostante e procelloso mare orridi mostri” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “Venti, fermate” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “Ma che parlo, che dico?” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Armida abbandonata, HWV 105: “In tanti affanni miei” (Armida)— George Frideric Handel
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Trio Sonata in B Minor, Op. 2/1, HWV 386b: I. Andante— George Friderich Handel
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Trio Sonata in B Minor, Op. 2/1, HWV 386b: II. Allegro— George Friderich Handel
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Trio Sonata in B Minor, Op. 2/1, HWV 386b: III. Largo— George Friderich Handel
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Trio Sonata in B Minor, Op. 2/1, HWV 386b: IV. Allegro— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “O numi eterni!” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Già superbo del mio affanno” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Ma voi forse nel cielo” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Il suol che preme” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Ah! che ancor nell’abisso” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Questi la disperata anima mia” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Alla salma infedel” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “A voi, Padre, consorte” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Già nel seno comincia a compir questo ferro i duri uffizii” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Lucrezia, HWV 145: “Ma se qui non m’è dato” (Lucrezia)— George Friderich Handel
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Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act III: When I Am Laid in Earth— Henry Purcell
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