Ardito
"Bold, daring" — an Italian performance marking for an energetic, spirited delivery.
What it means
Ardito is an Italian performance marking meaning literally "bold, daring." It calls for a courageous, decisive delivery that rules out hesitation or timidity.
Older music dictionaries describe the effect more precisely: it asks for a strong emphasis on the main melodic notes and rhythmic accents, an overall vehemence of expression, or sometimes simply a lively, spirited way of playing a passage.
Musical use
Ardito usually stands over individual themes, entrances, or short passages, less often over an entire movement, and calls there for an energetic attack rather than an evenly flowing delivery.
Ardito should be distinguished from related markings such as deciso or risoluto, which lean more toward decisiveness in the sense of purposefulness, while ardito additionally carries an overtone of courage and boldness. It differs from maestoso in lacking solemnity: ardito is brisk, not stately.
Performance practice
Bring out the main melodic notes clearly and accent them, rather than smoothing them into an even line. Play rhythmically taut and with force, but make sure that boldness does not tip over into harshness or rushing.