Barbara Strozzi’s ‘Amor dormiglione’ from the Op. 2 set of Cantate, ariette, e duetti (1651) is one of her most beguiling and subtly witty arias, a gently teasing address to Cupid himself, coaxing the god of love to wake and resume his work. Beneath its apparent simplicity lies Strozzi’s extraordinary sensitivity to text, where small shifts of harmony and gesture illuminate the poetry’s irony, tenderness, and quiet urgency.

Written for the intimate chamber environments in which Strozzi’s music was often performed, the piece is built around a flexible continuo texture that allows the voice to lead the rhetoric. The bass line provides a steady, but expressive foundation, supporting a vocal line that moves effortlessly between persuasion and reflection, and giving space for the text to unfold with clarity and intimacy.

This performance comes from Bellot Ensemble’s debut album, Cupid’s Ground Bass, and was filmed at the VOCES8 Centre by videographer Bobby Williams, with the support of Continuo Foundation. Lucine Musaelian sings while also playing the viola da gamba, joined by Daniel Murphy on theorbo and Matthew Brown on harpsichord. The film reflects the close, conversational nature of this music, capturing the sense of direct communication that lies at the heart of Strozzi’s works.

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Bellot Ensemble was named as the 2025-2027 BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble and selected for the Britten Pears Young Artist scheme. The group specialises in vivid and imaginative performances of 17th-century music, grounded in historical research and contemporary creativity.

PERFORMERS
Lucine Musaelian soprano, viola da gamba
Daniel Murphy theorbo
Matthew Brown harpsichord

CREDITS
Audio: John Croft (Chiaro Audio)
Producer: Thomas Pickering
Video: Bobby Williams
Label: First Hand Records
Filmed at: VOCES8 Centre, London
Supported by: Continuo Foundation

Cupid's Ground Bass is available to purchase from First Hand Records and to stream on all major digital platforms.