Opening simply with a solo voice, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Italian settings of eight poems by Renaissance artist Michelangelo for baritone and piano take both the performers and audience on a striking journey through Michelangelos tortured and knotty Tuscan poetry. The piano is introduced in the second of the eight settings punctuating the vocal part with a variety of different textures from bell-like figuration to turbulent virtuosity.
To be performed continuously, without any break between songs. I Qui chiuso è'l sol - II Mentre c'alla beltà - III Come può esser - IV La carne terra - V Colui che'l tutto fe' - VI Ben sarien dolce le preghiere mie - VII Se'l duo fa pur - VIII Caro m'e 'l sonno