Though written in 1770, this composition displays a high level of maturity, both musically and in dramatic sense. It was written to a long recitative and aria from Metastasio's "Demofoonte, " which provided Mozart with material for many other concert arias, such as Se ardire e speranza, Se tutti i mali miei, and Non curo l'affetto. In this scene, Timante has just learned that Dircea, whom he has married and had a son with, is in fact his sister. The recitative is a very naturalistic setting of the text, the disjointed phrases becoming increasingly distraught and frantic. Mozart writes this as a series of exclamations, sacrificing a flow of melody for the dramatic effect. The aria itself is very delicately orchestrated, particularly in the wind instruments. The vocal lines are more controlled than they were in the recitative, as Timante addresses his infant son, hoping that the child never learns of the incest of his birth. The subdued mood changes for a few moments to a tense agitato section, and then returns to the sad, quietly melodic first theme. (And no, the child does not change his name to Siegfried and find a job in Wagner's operas.)

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