Wednesday 26 November 2008

Tosca and Pagliacci

Tosca "How the stars seemed to shimmer..."

E lucevan le stelle, e olezzava la terra stridea l'uscio dell'orto, e un passo sfiorava la rena. Entrava ella, fragrante, mi cadea fra le braccia. Oh! dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr'io fremente le belle forme discogliea dai veli! Svani per sempre il sogno mio d'amore... L'ora e fuggita e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!



How the stars seemed to shimmer, the sweet scents of the garden, how the creaking gate whispered, and a footstep skimmed over the sand, how she then entered, so fragrant, and then fell into my two arms! Ah sweetest of kiss, languorous caresses, while I stood trembling, searching her features concealed by her mantle. My dreams of pure love, forgotten forever! All of it's gone now! I die hopeless, despairing, and never before have I loved life like this!



Pagliacci, "Laugh off the pain..."

Recitar! Mentre preso dal delirio,non so più quel che dico,e quel che faccio!Eppur è d'uopo, sforzati!Bah! sei tu forse un uom?Tu se' Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba,e la faccia infarina.La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il piantoin una smorfia il singhiozzo e 'l dolor, Ah!
Ridi, Pagliaccio,sul tuo amore infranto!Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!

On With The Show
Go on stage, while I'm nearly delirious?I don't know what I'm saying or what I'm doing!And yet, chin up! I'll try harder.Bah, you think you're a man?You're just a clown!On with the show, man, and put on your white-face.The people pay you and you must make them laugh.And if Harlequin should steal your Columbine,laugh, you're Pagliaccio, and the world will clap for you!Turn into banter all your pain and sorrow,and with your clown's face hide grief and distress...Laugh loud, Pagliaccio, forget all your troubles,Laugh off the pain that so empoisons your heart.

Tuesday 25 November 2008

home, again...incipit vita nouva...

"To every loving, gentle-hearted friend ": Mozart's Rondo in D, K485
(find part of it on YouTube, played by Annie Fischer, then you will search for the whole piece until you find it...then you will send the link to all your friends...