Some Tragedy

A boy in grade 9 could play this piece well enough (Lascia ch'io pianga, for those of you playing at home).  But this piece needs much more emotion than just the notes - the title means 'Allow me to Weep', after all.

Me: It needs a bit more tragedy. What's tragic in your life?
Boy: well, today I dissected a brain.

I couldn't go anywhere with that. He won.