Sorgea col lume in fronte

This cantata, from an important manuscript in Berlin containing 18 Albinoni cantatas for soprano and continuo, is distinguished not only by its music, which is exceptionally finely wrought and ends with an extended cavata - a sort of fugue for voice and bass - but also by its moving poetic text, which is by Antonio Ottoboni, father of the famous cardinal who was also the patron of Corelli, Handel and Vivaldi.