Svegliatevi nel core

"Svegliatevi nel core" ("Awaken in my heart") is an aria taken from act 1, scene 4 of the Italian language opera seria, Giulio Cesare, by George Frideric Handel. The aria is written for the role of Sesto, a soprano in trouser role, including during the premiere, who sings it to assure his mother that he will avenge the death of his father, Pompey, who was assassinated by the Egyptians, instructed by Tolomeo (Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator) to demonstrate the Egyptians' loyalty to Julius Caesar. The words were written by Nicola Francesco Haym.

Today, the role is also often sung by countertenor.

Libretto
Recitative Vani sono i lamenti è tempo, o Sesto, ormai di vendicar il padre si svegli alla vendetta l'anima neghittosa che offesa da un tiranno invan riposa.

Aria Svegliatevi nel core furie d'un'alma offesa a far d'un traditor aspra vendetta!

L'ombra del genitore accorre a mia difesa e dice: a te il rigor Figlio si aspetta.  Awaken in my heart The wrath of an offended soul So I may wreak upon a traitor My bitter vengeance!

The ghost of my father Hastens to my defense Saying: From you, my son Ferocity is expected.