frescamari's performance space

a place to post finished performances

24 Italian Arias - Lasciatemi morire!

Lasciatemi morire!

from the opera Arianna
Claudio Monteverdi
(c1567-1643)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of approximately one week's work learning "Lasciatemi morire."  Stay tuned every Friday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Lasciatemi morire!
E che volete che mi conforte
in così dura sorte,
in così gran martire?
Lasciatemi morire!

Let me die!
What would you have comfort me
against such a harsh fate,
in such great suffering?
Let me die!

24 Italian Arias - Alma del core

Alma del core

from the opera La costanze in amor vince l'inganno
Antonio Caldara
(c1670-1736)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of a little more than one week's work learning "Alma del core."  Stay tuned every Friday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Alma del core,
spirto dell'alma,
sempre costante t'adorerò.
Saro contento nel mio tormento
se quel bel labbro baciar potrò.

Soul of my heart,
spirit of my soul,
I will always faithfully adore you.
I will be content, in my torment
if I will be able to kiss those beautiful lips.

24 Italian Arias - Nina

Nina

Anonymous
previously attributed to Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of a little over a week's  work on "Nina"   Stay tuned every Friday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Tre giorni son che Nina
in letto senesta.

Pifferi, timpani, cembali,
svegliate mia Ninetta,
acciò non dorma più
For three days
Nina has been in bed.

Fifes, drums, cymbals
awaken my dear Nina
so that she will sleep no longer.

 

24 Italian Arias - Non posso disperar

Non posso disperar

Giovanni Bononcini
(1670 - 1747)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of a week's  work on "Non posso disperar."   Stay tuned every Friday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Non posso disperar,
sei troppo cara al cor.
Il solo sperare dàver a gioire
m'è dolce languire,
m'è un caro dolor, ah, sì!

I cannot despair;
you are too dear to my heart.
Just the hope of having joy
is for me a sweet languishing,
is for me a dear sadness -- ah, yes!

 

24 Italian Arias -- Tu lo sai

Tu lo sai

Giuseppe Torelli
(1658 - 1709)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of about week's  work on a song I have worked on in previous years in a lower key, "Tu lo sai."   Stay tuned every Friday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Tu lo sai quanto t'amai;
tu lo sai, crudel!
Io non bramo altra mercé,
ma ricordati di me,
e poi sprezza un infedel!

You know how much I loved you
you know it, cruel one!
I wish no other mercy
than that  you remember me
and then despise me an unfaithful one!

 

24 Italian Arias -- Amarilli

Amarilli

from the collection Le nuove musiche
Giulio Caccini
(1551 - 1618)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of one week's  work on "Amarilli."   Stay tuned every Wednesday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Amarilli,mia bella,
non credi, o del mio cor dolce desio,
d'esser tu l'amor mio?,
Credilo pur, e se timor t'assale, dubitar non ti vale.
Aprimi il petto e vedrai scritto in core:
Amarilli è il mio amore.

Amarilli, my beautiful one,
do you not believe, o sweet desire of my heart,
that you are my love?
Do believe it; and if fear assails you, doubting will not avail you.
Open my breast and you will see written on my heart:
"Amarilli is my love."

 

24 Italian Arias -- Le violette

Le violette

(Rugiadose, odorose)

from the opera Il Pirro e Demetrio
Alessandro Scarlatti
(c1660-1725)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of one week's  work on "Le violette."   Stay tuned every Wednesday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Rugiadose odorose,
violette graziose,
voi vi state vergognose,
mezzo ascose fra le foglie,
e sgridate le mie voglie,
che son troppo ambiziose.

Dewy, fragrant
pretty violets,
you stay there shyly,
half hidden among the leaves,
and rebuke my wishes
which are too ambitious.

24 Italian Arias -- O cessate di piagarmi

O cessate di piagarmi

from the opera Il Pompeo
Alessandro Scarlatti
(c1660-1725)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of one week's additional work on "O cessate di piagarmi,"  which is one of the songs I had learned prior to this project and have worked on in various years before today.  Stay tuned every Wednesday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

O cessate di piagarmi,
o lasciatemi morir,
luc'ingrate dispietate,
più del gelo e più dei marmi
fredde e sorde a' miei martir.

Either stop wounding me
or leave me to die,
ungrateful eyes, pitiless,
more than ice and more than marble
cold and deaf to my suffering.

24 Italian Arias -- Per la gloria d'adorarvi

Per la gloria d'adorarvi

from the opera Griselda
Giovanni Bononcini
(c1670-1747)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of one week's work learning "Per la gloria d'adorarvi."  Stay tuned every Wednesday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Per la gloria d'adorarvi voglio amarvi,
o luci care.
Amando penerò, ma sempre v'amerò, sì, nel mio penare.
Penerò, vamerò, luci care.

Senza speme di diletto vano affetto è sospirare,
ma i vostri dolci rai chi vagheggiar può mai e non v'amare?
Penerò, vamerò, luci care!

For the glory of adoring you I want to love you, o dear eyes.
In loving I will suffer;
but always I will love you, yes, in my suffering.
I will suffer, I will love you, dear eyes.

Without the hope of pleasure yearning is a futile affection;
but who can ever gaze at your sweet eyes and not love you?
I will suffer, I will love you, dear eyes!

 

24 Italian Arias -- Sebben, crudele

Sebben, crudele

from the opera La costanze in amor vince l'inganno
Antonio Caldara
(c1670-1736)

I am learning 24 Italian Arias in 24 weeks.  (See Avocational Singer blog post:  "24 Italian Songs and Arias in 24 Weeks") This is the product of one week's work learning "Sebben, crudele."  Stay tuned every Wednesday for a new aria each week in this performance space.

Sebben, crudele,
mi fai languir,
sempre fedele ti voglio amar.
Con la lunghezza del mio servir
la tua fierezza saprò stancar.

Although, cruel one, you make me languish,
I will always love you faithfully.
With the length of my servitude
I shall wear down your pride.