from Part II : The Man of the Cave, Scene III of the Italian opera
I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Temistocle Solera
Role: Giselda, daughter of Arvino and Viclinda
Voice Part: soprano Fach: spinto
Setting: the Harem of Antioch
Synopsis: Giselda is in captivity and she has fallen in love with Oronte, a man who is not only her abductor's son but also is not even Christian. Thus, in the first part of the aria, she prays to her mother's spirit to help her since she should not be loving this non-Christian. After this prayer, screams are heard from outside and the harem runs by her. Sofia is with them and stops just long enough to say that her husband and son have been killed by the Crusaders who have invaded the palace. As she runs out, Arvino and Pagano walk in. Giselda then begins her cabaletta, singing furiously that the crusade will never succeed. She foretells disaster and destruction for the crusaders and finishes by singing "Dio non lo vuole" or "God does not want it (the crusade)".
