Nicola (Antonio) Porpora (1686 – 1768) was a Neapolitan composer of Baroque operas and teacher of singing, whose most famous singing student was the castrato Farinelli.
Porpora's serenata «Angelica», performed in Naples in 1720, offers wonderful example of concertante aria designed to make the audience gasp as the cello takes centre stage for its extended virtuoso introduction. In the case of «Bella Diva», Porpora gives the cello an introduction of 25 measures, Even though – as we know – this was the serenata at which Farinelli made his public debut in the role of Tirsi, the role of Medoro was allocated to another extraordinary interpreter the castrato, Domenico Gizzi. The idea of the extraordinary castrato in duet with a cellist indicates the level of breath-taking performance for which these arias were composed, not only in technical difficulty but in the artistic response between cellist and singer. The special skill that Porpora shows in each of these arias is to reintroduce the virtuoso elements of the opening solo passagework so that it is interwoven around the voice, both in dialogue and during long notes sustained by the singer.
Bella Diva all' ombre amica,
Scorgi almen con puro ciglio
Nel periglio,
Il nostro amor.
Nuda splendi, e chiara in cielo,
Come allor che senza velo
Fosti in braccio al tuo pastor.
