Antonio Caldara (c. 1670 – 28 December 1736) was an Italian Baroque composer. 



Caldara, born in Venice was the son of a violinist. As a boy he became a chorister at St Mark’s in Venice. There he learned to play several instruments, probably under the instruction of the organist and composer Giovanni Legrenzi. 



Caldara composed more than 70 operas, 30 oratorios, as well as other works such as sonatas and motets.



“Alma del core,” is the companion piece to “Sebben crudele” from the opera, "La constanza in amor vince l'inganno" (Faithfulness in love defeats treachery), composed in 1710 and revised in 1716 by Antonio Caldara.



Caldara died in Vienna in 1736, aged 66.

For further information.


To be taken to Sebben crudele also by Caldera.

You may purchase a recording of the song from Presto Music.

Alma del core, spirto del' alma. The poem is anonymous.

Alma del core, spirto del' alma,
Sempre costante t'adorero
T'adorero, t'adorero, t'adorero, t'adorero.

Alma del core, spirto del' alma,
Sempre costante t'adorero,
Sempre costante t'adorero.

Saro contiento,
Nel mio tormento,
Se quel bel labro baciar potro.
Se quel bel labro, se quel bel labro baciar potro.

Alma del core, spirto del' alma,
Sempre costante t'adorero
T'adorero, t'adorero, t'adorero, t'adorero.

Alma del core, spirto del' alma,
Sempre costante t'adorero,
Sempre costante t'adorero.

English translation.

Spirit of the heart, spirit of the soul,

I will always adore you,
Always constant, I will adore you,
I'll adore you, I'll adore you, I'll adore you, I'll adore you.

Spirit of the heart, spirit of the soul
Always constant I will adore you
Always constant I will adore you

I will be happy
In my torment
If I can kiss that beautiful lip.
If that beautiful lip, if that beautiful lip I can kiss.

Spirit of the heart, spirit of the soul,
Always constant I will adore you.
I will adore you, I will adore you, I will adore you, I will adore you.

Spirit of the heart, spirit of the soul
Always constant, I will adore you.
Always constant, I will adore you.

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) pronunciation of the Italian poem.

ˈalma dˈel kˈɔre, spˈirto dˈel' ˈalma,

ˈalma dˈel kˈɔre, spˈirto dˈel' ˈalma,
sˈɛmpre kostˈante tadorˈɛro
tadorˈɛro, tadorˈɛro, tadorˈɛro, tadorˈɛro.

ˈalma dˈel kˈɔre, spˈirto dˈel' ˈalma,
sˈɛmpre kostˈante tadorˈɛro,
sˈɛmpre kostˈante tadorˈɛro.

sˈaro kontjˈɛnto,
nˈɛl mˈio tormˈento,
sˈe kwˈɛl bˈɛl lˈabro bat͡ʃˈar pˈɔtro.
sˈe kwˈɛl bˈɛl lˈabro, sˈe kwˈɛl bˈɛl lˈabro bat͡ʃˈar pˈɔtro.

ˈalma dˈel kˈɔre, spˈirto dˈel' ˈalma,
sˈɛmpre kostˈante tadorˈɛro
tadorˈɛro, tadorˈɛro, tadorˈɛro, tadorˈɛro.

ˈalma dˈel kˈɔre, spˈirto dˈel' ˈalma,
sˈɛmpre kostˈante tadorˈɛro,
sˈɛmpre kostˈante tadorˈɛro.