# Ah, lo previdi

"Ah, lo previdi! ... Ah, t'invola ... Misera! ... Deh, non varcar", K. 272, is a concert aria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for solo soprano and orchestra, one of Mozart's first large-scale operatic concert pieces.

## Description

Sung by the character Andromeda, this extensive concert aria takes around twelve to fourteen minutes to perform. There are various tempo markings, including Allegro risoluto, Allegro, Andante, Adagio and Andantino, consisting of 323 bars, primarily in the key of C minor. The work calls for two oboes, two horns in E♭ and strings. The final cavatina "Deh, non varcar" features a lyrical accompaniment with the oboe, as Andromeda pleads for Perseus to wait for her in the afterlife.

### Narrative

This operatic version tells of the myth of Andromeda, condemned to be sacrificed to a sea monster. However she is saved by the hero Perseus. She is obliged to marry Eurystheus, heir to the kingdom of Argos, but is in love with Perseus. In this aria Andromeda berates Eurystheus with an emotional fury at the apparent suicide of Perseus. She believes he failed to prevent Perseus's death. Andromeda then reflects to (the absent) Perseus with an intense grief. The recitative and aria ends in a gentle cavatina "Deh, non vacar", with a quiet ending in B-flat major. The passionate writing hints at later roles for operatic sopranos, such as Elektra in Idomeneo, The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.

## History

Composed in Salzburg in August 1777, the aria was written for Josepha Duschek, for whom Mozart later wrote "Bella mia fiamma, addio", K528 in Prague. Mozart recommended "Ah, lo previdi!" to his beloved Aloysia Weber, writing "I advise you to observe the expression marks—to think carefully of the meaning and the impact of the words—to put yourself in all seriousness into Andromeda's situation and position!—and to imagine that you really are that very person." The aria was published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1888. The original manuscript is housed in the Berlin State Library.

## Text

The text is by Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi [it], taken from the 1772 opera Andromeda, probably composed by Giovanni Paisiello.
Andromeda Recitativo Ah, lo previdi! Povero Prence, con quel ferro istesso che me salvò, ti lacerasti il petto.
(ad Eristeo) Ma tu sì fiero scempio perchè non impedir? Come, o crudele, d'un misero a pietà non ti movesti? Qual tigre, qual tigre ti nodrì? Dove, dove, dove nascesti?
Aria Ah, t'invola agl'occhi miei, alma vile, ingrato cor! La cagione, oh Dio, tu sei del mio barbaro, barbaro dolor. Va, crudele! Va, spietato! Va, tra le fiere ad abitar.
(Eristeo parte) Recitativo Misera! Misera! Invan m'adiro, e nel suo sangue intanto nuota già l'idol mio. Con quell'acciaro, ah Perseo, che facesti? Mi salvasti poc'anzi, or m'uccidesti.
Col sangue, ahi, la bell'alma, ecco, già uscì dallo squarciato seno. Me infelice! Si oscura il giorno agli occhi miei, e nel barbaro affanno il cor vien meno.
Ah, non partir, ombra diletta, io voglio unirmi a te. Sul grado estremo, intanto che m'uccide il dolor, intanto fermati, fermati alquanto!
Cavatina Deh, non varcar quell'onda, anima del cor mio. Di Lete all'altra sponda, ombra, compagna anch'io voglio venir, venir con te.
Ah, I foresaw this! With your sword, unhappy Prince you saved me but took your own life
(to Eristeo) Why did you not prevent this terrible deed? Cruel man, not given to pity What tiger gave you suck? Where did you come from? Be gone from my sight!
  Flee from my site You base spirit, unkind heart! By heaven You are the cause of this barbaric suffering The most cruel and ruthless Go and live amongst the wildest beasts
(Eristeo exits)
Unhappiness is me! I rage in vain My beloved lies in a pool of his own blood Why, Perseus did you do this? Darkness falls, my heart grows faint.
With painful blood This beautiful soul is taken Unhappy me The day is darkening before me With a failing heart of torment
Depart not my beloved! I will be with you At the end pause And I will be with you While sorrow ends my life
  Do not cross that stream Soul of my own soul To the furthest shore of Lethe I will be your companion forever, stay! Forever I will be with you.