from Act II of the Italian opera La Finta Giardiniera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Libretto: Ranieri Calzabigi

Role: Count Belfiore, in love with Arminda, previously in love with Violante

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: tenor leggiero

Setting: a hall in Anchises's palace

Synopsis: Belfiore is questioned by Anchises about whether he killed Violante or not. He begins to incriminate himself but Violante saves him. She reveals that she is not Sandrina the garden maid, but really Marchioness Violante Onesti and, since she is there, he couldn't have killed her. Arminda becomes jealous and leaves and Anchises, who was in love with Sandrina, also departs in a rage. Belfiore is left alone with Violante, but she also leaves. He attempts to stop her in the accompanied recitative but is unable to. In the aria, he describes the cold and trembling unhappiness he feels. Nearby, though, he feels a light breeze and he is also able to see the sun in front of him, so he realizes that some hope still remains.