Lamentations of lost and betrayed love from 17th century Italy: musical portraits juxtaposed with contemporary paintings by Gentilesschi in their controlled power and violence.

Although the composers presented in this concert were born and worked in different provinces of Italy, most of them pursued common goals and aesthetic principles. The text came first and the music was always subordinate to it. The sweet agony of a broken heart elicited lengthy melodies, supported by sparse but painfully chromatic harmony. The melody itself was always articulated according to the form of the text, fitting together like a hand in a silk glove.

Eleni Lydia Stamellou and Konstantin Shenikov have made their own selection from a rich treasure trove of available repertoire in this vein. The title of the album comes from the final track "Oblivion soave", taken from Monteverdi's last opera "L'incoronazione di Poppea". The aria is an example of the humanist values of the Enlightenment, inspiring both self-exploration and "sweet oblivion". It includes perhaps the most famous song about a lost love ever, at least until the age of song, Caccini's "Amarilli, mia bella", and comparatively well-known masterpieces of the genre such as Monteverdi's "Si dolce 'l tormento" and Peri's "Tora, deh torna". There is also room for the no less subtle art of Andrea Falconieri as well as several songs by Barbara Strozzi, one of the most successful female composers of the time; in fact, she was the most prolific composer - of any gender - of printed secular vocal music in Venice around the middle of the 17th century. Eleni Lydia Stamellou is a Greek soprano who specializes in this Renaissance repertoire as well as in new music and songs. As a member of Music Aeterna, she has sung operatic roles under the direction of Teodor Currentzis, including Despina (Cosi fan tutte) and Pierrot in Schönberg's cabaret monodrama. The lutenist Konstantin Shenikov was a regular guest in early opera productions under the direction of Andrew Lawrence-King in Russia.

A beautifully conceived program of songs and arias from the Renaissance and early Baroque periods, sung by Greek soprano Eleni Lydia Stamellou, accompanied by Konstantin Shenikov on the lute. The composers featured are Monteverdi (1567-1643), Frescobaldi (1583-1643), Caccini (1551-1618), Strozzi (baptized 1619-1677), Peri (1561-1633) and Falconieri (ca. 1585-1656). The secular texts deal with love, both its sublime fulfillment and its melancholy devotion.

The Greek soprano Eleni Lydia Stamellou won second prize at the Ferruccio Tagliavini Competition in Austria, whose jury president was Dame Joan Sutherland. She then attended master classes with Teresa Berganza, Edda Moser and Christa Ludwig. She has sung in opera productions with MusicAeterna under the direction of Teodor Currentzis. She specializes in Renaissance / Baroque and contemporary music. She has sung in productions by Berio and Hersant.