La Follia in Vivaldi's opera Orlando Furioso, Act 3, Scene 4, RV 728

Vivaldi's La Follia is rather well-known and published in 1705. It was an indirect tribute to his teacher Arcangelo Corelli. Less known is that in the opera Orlando Furioso (first performance in 1727) there is a reference to the Folía-dance which means that the Follia was popular in those days.
More about la Folía at http://www.folias.nl La Folia, a musical cathedral (1672- present)

Vivaldi actually titled the opera 'Orlando'. 'Orlando Furioso' was the name of an earlier opera with music by G. A. Ristori and a libretto by Grazio Braccioli. Vivaldi made modifications to that opera in 1714, and in 1727 wrote completely new music to Braccioli's libretto, which is why Scimone calls it 'Orlando Furioso'.
The last lines are directed to the sorceress Alcina. The 6 'la's are sung to the Folia tune, just making it into the 3rd measure. This snippet can be found about .9 inch (2.3 cm) from the end of side 5 of the recording.
In Act 3, Scene 4, Orlando says this in his madness (English translation by Edward Houghton):
All'invito gentil che Amor le fa
Madame la Crudelta
Con guardo torvo e minaccioso aspetto
Disse 'Petit fripon; je ne veux pas!'
Ed il rigor, presa belta pre mano
Lascio con passo grave e ciera brutta
Il mio povero amore e bocca asciutta.
Deh, appaghi ella il mio amor
meco danzando
Danziam, Signora, la follia d'Orlando.
Suonate! suonate!
La la la la la la (in atto di danzare)

To the gracious invitation of love
Madame Cruelty
with grim gaze, and threatening expression
said " Little rogue, I shan't"
and Severity, taking beauty by the hand,
with grave step and ugly expression
left my love unrequited.
Ah, her satisfy my love
in a dance.
Let us dance, my lady, Orlando's "follia".
Play ! Play!
(dancing) La la la ra la

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