The Podcast

Although, I think, the most useful parts of this website are available only interactively, when one is actually browsing and mousing around, a podcast is also available.

In each episode the poem is first briefly introduced — so that the listener knows something about the topic, the author and the context — and then the poem itself is read.

There is no full translation, because in my experience that’s not particularly useful: one listens to the translation, by the time it is done has forgotten most of it, and then is hit by a foreign language with almost nothing to rely on. Hopefully having just the main ideas will lower the memory challenge.

If you do want the full translation, please go to the respective poem’s pages by clicking on the link.

  • Jun 14, 2026
    Gli ignavi, by Dante Alighieri
    The music in this episode is De Torrente, from Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus (RV 807), played by Cor i Orquestra de música antiga de l’Esmuc, Inés Alonso (soprano solista), Albert Baena (alto solista), Lluís Vila (director) (in the creative commons thanks to the Catalonia College of Music).
  • May 24, 2026
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Oboes in A minor, RV 536 — I. Allegro, by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under creative commons from musopen).
  • May 10, 2026
    The music in this episode is Lamento della Ninfa from Monteverdi’s Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi, sung by Daphne Ramakers (under creative commons).
  • Dec 31, 2025
    Sole d’inverno, by Ada Negri
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Oboes in A minor, RV 536 — I. Allegro, by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under creative commons from musopen).
  • Dec 25, 2025
    Il presepio, by Gabriele D’Annunzio
    The music in this episode is Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (Christmas Concerto), Op. 6, No. 8, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra (licensed under Creative Commons).
  • Jun 28, 2025
    La pioggia nel pineto, by Gabriele D’Annunzio
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 10, RV 580, played by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under Creative Commons).
  • Apr 13, 2025
    The music in this episode is Domenico Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K.32, recorded by Sylvia Marlowe (in the public domain).
  • Mar 2, 2025
    Un’ape esser vorrei, by Torquato Tasso
    The music in this episode is Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, S. Z799, recorded by the Orchestre de chambre de la Sarre (in the public domain).
  • Feb 1, 2025
    Alla sera, by Ugo Foscolo
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 3 No. 11, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Parry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (under creative commons from the Al Goldstein collection).
  • Jan 18, 2025
    The music in this episode is Gaetano Donizetti’s overture to the opera Don Pasquale, played by the United States Marine Band for the album Overtures, Volume Two (in the public domain).
  • Jan 1, 2025
    The music in this episode is Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, recorded by Elias Goldstein (Viola) and Christina Lalog (Piano) (in the public domain).
  • Dec 24, 2024
    Natale, by Giuseppe Ungaretti
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 3 No. 11, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Parry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (under creative commons from the Al Goldstein collection).
  • Dec 14, 2024
    Io vidi già seder nell’arme irato, by Leon Battista Alberti
    The music in this episode is Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (Christmas Concerto), Op. 6, No. 8, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra (licensed under Creative Commons).
  • Nov 30, 2024
    The music in this episode is Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G Minor for Violin and Piano played by Angelo Xiang Yu and Dina Vainshtein (in the creative commons music collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum).
  • Nov 16, 2024
    Caro luogo, by Umberto Saba
    The music in this episode is Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G Minor for Violin and Piano played by Angelo Xiang Yu and Dina Vainshtein (in the creative commons music collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum).
  • Nov 2, 2024
    L’orologio da rote, by Ciro di Pers
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Oboes in A minor, RV 536 — I. Allegro, by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under creative commons from musopen).
  • Oct 20, 2024
    Ed è subito sera, by Salvatore Quasimodo
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Cellos in G minor, RV 531, played by New Trinity Baroque (under Creative Commons).
  • Oct 5, 2024
    La Nencia di Barberino, by Lorenzo de Medici
    The music in this episode is Gaetano Donizetti’s overture to the opera Don Pasquale, played by the United States Marine Band for the album Overtures, Volume Two (in the public domain).
  • Sep 21, 2024
    Non ha l’ottimo artista, by Michelangelo Buonarroti
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 3 No. 11, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Parry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (under creative commons from the Al Goldstein collection).
  • Aug 31, 2024
    Sembran fere d’avorio in bosco d’oro, by Anton Maria Narducci
    The music in this episode is Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, recorded by Elias Goldstein (Viola) and Christina Lalog (Piano) (in the public domain).
  • Aug 17, 2024
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 3 No. 11, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Parry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (under creative commons from the Al Goldstein collection).
  • Aug 3, 2024
    The music in this episode is De Torrente, from Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus (RV 807), played by Cor i Orquestra de música antiga de l’Esmuc, Inés Alonso (soprano solista), Albert Baena (alto solista), Lluís Vila (director) (in the creative commons thanks to the Catalonia College of Music).
  • Jul 21, 2024
    Presagio, by Ada Negri
    The music in this episode is Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (Christmas Concerto), Op. 6, No. 8, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra (licensed under Creative Commons).
  • Jul 6, 2024
    The music in this episode is Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, S. Z799, recorded by the Orchestre de chambre de la Sarre (in the public domain).
  • Jun 22, 2024
    Trasformazione di Dafne in lauro, by Giambattista Marino
    The music in this episode is De Torrente, from Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus (RV 807), played by Cor i Orquestra de música antiga de l’Esmuc, Inés Alonso (soprano solista), Albert Baena (alto solista), Lluís Vila (director) (in the creative commons thanks to the Catalonia College of Music).
  • Jun 8, 2024
    Sia pace ai frati, by Vittorio Alfieri
    The music in this episode is Gaetano Donizetti’s overture to the opera Don Pasquale, played by the United States Marine Band for the album Overtures, Volume Two (in the public domain).
  • May 25, 2024
    Il lampo, by Giovanni Pascoli
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 10, RV 580, played by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under Creative Commons).
  • May 10, 2024
    Bella ch’invecchia, by Anton Giulio Brignole Sale
    The music in this episode is Gaetano Donizetti’s overture to the opera Don Pasquale, played by the United States Marine Band for the album Overtures, Volume Two (in the public domain).
  • Apr 27, 2024
    Chi sono, by Aldo Palazzeschi
    The music in this episode is Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, recorded by Elias Goldstein (Viola) and Christina Lalog (Piano) (in the public domain).
  • Apr 13, 2024
    Paolo e Francesca, by Dante Alighieri
    The music in this episode is Lamento della Ninfa from Monteverdi’s Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi, sung by Daphne Ramakers (under creative commons).
  • Apr 1, 2024
    The music in this episode is Domenico Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K.32, recorded by Sylvia Marlowe (in the public domain).
  • Mar 23, 2024
    Tutti in maschera, by Emilio Praga
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Credo in Unum Deum, RV 591, played by Advent Chamber Orchestra (under Creative Commons).
  • Mar 10, 2024
    Per lei, by Giorgio Caproni
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 3 No. 11, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Parry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (under creative commons from the Al Goldstein collection).
  • Feb 25, 2024
    Care selve, a voi ritorno, by Apostolo Zeno
    The music in this episode is Lamento della Ninfa from Monteverdi’s Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi, sung by Daphne Ramakers (under creative commons).
  • Feb 18, 2024
    Funere mersit acerbo, by Giosuè Carducci
    The music in this episode is Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, S. Z799, recorded by the Orchestre de chambre de la Sarre (in the public domain).
  • Feb 11, 2024
    Didone abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio
    The music in this episode is De Torrente, from Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus (RV 807), played by Cor i Orquestra de música antiga de l’Esmuc, Inés Alonso (soprano solista), Albert Baena (alto solista), Lluís Vila (director) (in the creative commons thanks to the Catalonia College of Music).
  • Feb 4, 2024
    Sdegna Clorinda a i femminili uffici, by Petronilla Paolini Massimi
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Credo in Unum Deum, RV 591, played by Advent Chamber Orchestra (under Creative Commons).
  • Jan 28, 2024
    Sventatezza, by Antonia Pozzi
    The music in this episode is Domenico Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K.32, recorded by Sylvia Marlowe (in the public domain).
  • Jan 20, 2024
    Eri dritta e felice, by Leonardo Sinisgalli
    The music in this episode is Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, S. Z799, recorded by the Orchestre de chambre de la Sarre (in the public domain).
  • Jan 14, 2024
    The music in this episode is Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G Minor for Violin and Piano played by Angelo Xiang Yu and Dina Vainshtein (in the creative commons music collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum).
  • Jan 6, 2024
    Assoluzione, by Emilio Praga
    The music in this episode is Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, recorded by Elias Goldstein (Viola) and Christina Lalog (Piano) (in the public domain).
  • Dec 31, 2023
    Fine del ‘68, by Eugenio Montale
    The music in this episode is De Torrente, from Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus (RV 807), played by Cor i Orquestra de música antiga de l’Esmuc, Inés Alonso (soprano solista), Albert Baena (alto solista), Lluís Vila (director) (in the creative commons thanks to the Catalonia College of Music).
  • Dec 24, 2023
    Nella notte di Natale, by Umberto Saba
    The music in this episode is Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (Christmas Concerto), Op. 6, No. 8, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra (licensed under Creative Commons).
  • Dec 17, 2023
    Il pellerossa nel Presepe, by Gianni Rodari
    The music in this episode is Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (Christmas Concerto), Op. 6, No. 8, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra (licensed under Creative Commons).
  • Dec 9, 2023
    The music in this episode is Monteverdi’s Toccata from Orfeo, played by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (in the public domain).
  • Dec 2, 2023
    Interno, by Sandro Penna
    The music in this episode is Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, S. Z799, recorded by the Orchestre de chambre de la Sarre (in the public domain).
  • Nov 25, 2023
    A una zanzara, by Gianfrancesco Maia Materdona
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 10, RV 580, played by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under Creative Commons).
  • Nov 18, 2023
    Lavandare, by Giovanni Pascoli
    The music in this episode is Lamento della Ninfa from Monteverdi’s Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi, sung by Daphne Ramakers (under creative commons).
  • Nov 12, 2023
    S’i’ fosse foco, by Cecco Angiolieri
    The music in this episode is Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, recorded by Elias Goldstein (Viola) and Christina Lalog (Piano) (in the public domain).
  • Nov 5, 2023
    The music in this episode is Monteverdi’s Toccata from Orfeo, played by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (in the public domain).
  • Oct 31, 2023
    Tacito orror di solitaria selva, by Vittorio Alfieri
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Cellos in G minor, RV 531, played by New Trinity Baroque (under Creative Commons).
  • Oct 23, 2023
    La sabbia del tempo, by Gabriele D’Annunzio
    The music in this episode is De Torrente, from Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus (RV 807), played by Cor i Orquestra de música antiga de l’Esmuc, Inés Alonso (soprano solista), Albert Baena (alto solista), Lluís Vila (director) (in the creative commons thanks to the Catalonia College of Music).
  • Oct 16, 2023
    La sera del dì di festa, by Giacomo Leopardi
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 3 No. 11, played by the Advent Chamber Orchestra with David Parry and Roxana Pavel Goldstein (under creative commons from the Al Goldstein collection).
  • Oct 10, 2023
    Tacciono i boschi e i fiumi, by Torquato Tasso
    The music in this episode is Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G Minor for Violin and Piano played by Angelo Xiang Yu and Dina Vainshtein (in the creative commons music collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum).
  • Oct 8, 2023
    La prigionia di Don Ciccio, by Giovanni Francesco Lazzarelli
    The music in this episode is Paganini’s Caprice No. 24, recorded by Elias Goldstein (Viola) and Christina Lalog (Piano) (in the public domain).
  • Oct 7, 2023
    Amato figlio, or che la dolce vista, by Faustina Maratti Zappi
    The music in this episode is Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, S. Z799, recorded by the Orchestre de chambre de la Sarre (in the public domain).
  • Oct 7, 2023
    La tigre assenza, by Cristina Campo
    The music in this episode is Domenico Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K.32, recorded by Sylvia Marlowe (in the public domain).
  • Oct 6, 2023
    Intorno ad una fonte, in un pratello, by Giovanni Boccaccio
    The music in this episode is Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Oboes in A minor, RV 536 — I. Allegro, by The Modena Chamber Orchestra (under creative commons from musopen).