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

Caldara born in Venice was the son of a violinist. He became a chorister at St Mark’s in Venice. There he learned 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, motets.



“Sebben crudele,” is the companion piece to “Alma del core” 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 (1670 – 1736).



Caldara died in Vienna in 1736, aged 66.

For further information.


To be taken to Alma del core also by Caldera.

To purchase a recording of the work.

Sebben, crudele. The poem is anonymous.

Sebben, crudele,

mi fai languir,
sempre fedele
ti voglio amar.

Con la lunghezza
del mio servir

la tua fierezza

saprò stancar.

English translation

Although, cruel.

Although, cruel,

you make me languish,

I always want to love you
With faithfulness.

With my enduring servitude

to your pride

I will wear you down.

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

sˈebːen, krʊdˈɛle,

mˈi fˈaːi laŋɡwˈir,
sˈɛmpre fedˈele
tˈi vˈoʎo amˈar.

kˈon lˈa lʊŋɡˈet͡sːa
dˈel mˈio servˈir

lˈa tˈua fjerˈet͡sːa

saprˈɔ stankˈar.