The music for this aria was not composed by Antonio Vivaldi. The aria, originally called Sposa, non mi conosci, was taken from the Geminiano Giacomelli's opera Merope (1734), composed before Vivaldi's pasticcio Bajazet. It was a common practice during Vivaldi's time to compile arias from other composers with one own's work for an opera. Vivaldi himself composed the arias for the good characters and mostly used existing arias from other composers for the villains in this opera. "Sposa son disprezzata" is sung by a villain character, Irene. Vivaldi has recently been attributed as the composer of the work, perhaps because Cecilia Bartoli's album "If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami ), 18th-Century Italian Songs") which uses Alessandro Parisotti's 19-century piano version, attributes the work solely to Vivaldi.
Libretto (Italian):
Sposa son disprezzata,
fida son oltraggiata,
cieli che feci mai?
E pur egl'è il mio cor
il mio sposo, il mio amor,
la mia speranza.
L'amo ma egl'è infedel
spero ma egl'è crudel,
morir mi lascierai?
O Dio manca il valor
valor e la costanza.
(Translation in English)
I am a scorned wife,
faithful, yet insulted.
Heavens, what did I do?
And yet he is my heart,
my husband, my love,
my hope.
I love him, but he is unfaithful,
I hope, but he is cruel,
will he let me die?
O God, valor is missing -
valor and constancy.
In the 1880s adaptation by Alessandro Parisotti, the second stanza is left out. This adaption is the most widely heard, popularized by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli in the aforementioned album If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami).
In popular culture:
This song closes The Sopranos episode 37, "Pine Barrens", and opens episode 38, "Amour Fou".
Vivaldi: Sposa son desprezzata
Cecilia Bartoli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fida son oltraggiata
Cieli che feci mai?
Cieli che feci mai?
E pur egl'è il mio cor
Il mio sposo, il mio amor
Sposa son disprezzata
Fida son oltraggiata
Cieli che feci mai?
Cieli che feci mai?
E pur egl'è il mio cor
Il mio sposo, il mio amor
La mia speranza
La mia speranza
L mio sposo, il mio amor
La mia speranza
La mia speranza
The song "Sposa son desprezzata" is composed by Antonio Vivaldi and is part of his opera "Bajazet". The song is sung by the character Asteria, who laments being rejected by her husband Andronico. The first line, "Sposa son desprezzata", translates to "I am a wife who is despised", which reflects Asteria's feelings of abandonment and betrayal. The second line, "Fida son oltraggiata", means "I am a faithful wife who is betrayed", which highlights Asteria's loyalty despite being mistreated.
The repetition of "Cieli che feci mai?" (What have I done to deserve this?) in the song emphasizes Asteria's confusion and desperation in her situation. Despite her husband's mistreatment, she still loves him, as shown by the lines "E pur egl'è il mio cor / Il mio sposo, il mio amor" (Yet he is my heart / My husband, my love).
The emotions expressed in the song, such as bitterness, pain, and devotion, are common themes in baroque-era operas. The aria is known for its dramatic and emotional performance, with strong vocal runs and ornamentation.
Line by Line Meaning
Sposa son disprezzata
I am a despised bride
Fida son oltraggiata
I am a faithful but insulted woman
Cieli che feci mai?
Heavens, what have I done?
E pur egl'è il mio cor
And yet he is my heart
Il mio sposo, il mio amor
My spouse, my love
La mia speranza
My hope
Sposa son disprezzata
I am a despised bride
Fida son oltraggiata
I am a faithful but insulted woman
Cieli che feci mai?
Heavens, what have I done?
Cieli che feci mai?
Heavens, what have I done?
E pur egl'è il mio cor
And yet he is my heart
Il mio sposo, il mio amor
My spouse, my love
La mia speranza
My hope
La mia speranza
My hope
Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: Antonio Vivaldi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jalapablo
This aria is about a woman whose husband repeatedly cheats on her, but she still loves him so. They play this piece in the Sopranos, I think David Chase had in mind Tony's affairs on Carmela, especially the one he was currently having with Gloria. If you notice in the episode, the music centers on Carmela in the museum, crying as she looks at the religious-themed artwork. One painting was of a woman kissing the hand of baby Jesus, she in a sense betrothing herself to the Lord -- a husband who would never betray or cheat on her faithfulness as Tony had done to her. The music in any case is exquisite; those two sequences towards the end get me in tears every time. And I've listened to this piece dozens and dozens of times.
@Debiru667
They also play it when Melfi connects Tony's attraction to Glori from her likeness of his mother. But why do they play it after they decide to leave the Russian thing alone?
@DeepScreenAnalysis
Because the Pine Barrens episode ends with the reference to Gloria, who is the scorned woman, and then Melfi connecting her personality to Livia.
@Enlightened_thing_in_town
Thanks for telling this...🙏
@HanaDeHaya
Which episode of Sopranos, was this piece sung? I love this aria, & would enjoy hearing it in a different setting.
@kevinbittick558
@@HanaDeHaya It's at the end of "Pine Barrens" (Season 3, Episode 11) and the beginning of "Amour Fou" (Season 3, Episode 12).
@j.cesar.353
This is on another level. Binge watching the sopranos brought me to this celestial rendition.
@saaravirtanen1596
Same here
@patriciahart3040
Same again!
@Viktors633
yep