The vocal works collected in this volume were composed for very different occasions. Several of them were tailor-made for female singers of Beethoven’s acquaintance; with others he was trying his hand at Italian opera (under the guidance of none other than Antonio Salieri). In addition to core repertoire pieces such as “Ah! perfido” op. 65, the volume also contains unknown treasures such as “No, non turbarti,” “Ma tu tremi, o mio tesoro?”, a scene and aria which Beethoven revised several times. In this Henle edition, based on the Beethoven Complete Edition, the last version of the aria is made available for musicians for the first time.

Contents: Erste Liebe, Himmelslust (Primo amore, piacer del ciel); Soll ein Schuh nicht drücken, Ah! perfido; No, non turbarti…Ma tu tremi, o mio tesoro?; Ne’ giorni tuoi felici (duet for soprano and tenor); Tremate, empi, tremate (trio for soprano, tenor, bass).