Handel's Da Tempeste

Following on from Saturday's Handel excerpt, here's Cleopatra's aria Da Tempeste from Guilio Cesare — according to libretto, the queen has been freed from her imprisonment and is anticipating victory over her brother Tolomeo. Once again the performers are Apollo's Fire and Amanda Forsythe.

As with the aria from Alcina, the trills and ornaments in the da capo repeat are absolutely astonishing.