The work is scored for two
clarinets, two
bassoons, two
horns in E,
strings with
divided violas, soprano, piano. The aria consists of two sections, the recitative, 27
bars in
G minor ("") and the aria itself, 219 bars, a '''' in
E-flat major (""). A performance takes approximately ten minutes. The piece opens with strings alone, followed by an alternation with the soprano solo. After the opening few phrases the tempo briefly becomes faster and more rigorous, but soon returns to that of the beginning, with the voice now accompanied by the strings. This is followed by the winds' introduction of a
modulation to E-flat major, at which point the piano enters in a light, gentle almost flirtatious upwards moving passage which sets the
theme of the opening of the '
. The soprano then re-enters, the piano providing a more prominent accompaniment interspersed with solo passages. Throughout the ' there is a considerable amount of
coloratura and sustained notes. There is a sudden tempo change ushered in by the piano in rapid scales. There is then a brief passage in which only the piano accompanies the orchestra. A new theme is then introduced and repeated, after which another intense moment is introduced with repetition of the word
perchè ? (why?) by the soprano. After this there is a passage in the
minor with only the piano and soprano. However, the winds and piano soon lead back to the major, at which point the theme of the '''' is repeated at the faster tempo. A considerable amount of coloratura from the soprano follows, culminating in two high notes which then further lead to a trill, and to the glorious ending accompanied by
arpeggios in the piano. ==Libretto==