I’m absolutely in love with Luciano Pavarotti. Even for people that don’t appreciate opera, I think everyone can admit that this man’s voice was a gift from God. His passion for perfecting his craft reminds me so much of Michelangelo. His range, diction, and intense perfection produce a rich sound that is often referred to as “squillo”- an opera term for a ringing sound that causes a buzzing in your head. I get goosebumps every time I listen to him sing. Oddly enough, sculptors look for stone that “sings” when it is struck with a hammer. (I learned this during a semester sculpting alabaster in high school.) The higher the pitch, means fewer veins and hence a better and stronger stone.
I watched the airing of L’elisir D’amore on PBS ages ago. I knew the main gist of the story and that it was composed by Gaetano Donizetti, but since the opera is entirely in Italian, I didn’t really know what anyone was saying. However, as soon as the orchestra started playing the intro of the Una Furtiva Lagrima aria, I knew this was something special. Again, I had no idea what the words were, but something about his singing touched my soul. Then, once I saw the words in English, I realized why I found this piece so moving and emotional- its all about loving someone down to the depths of your soul. I love this song so much, I actually had it played as part of the music during our wedding reception.
Today marks the 13th anniversary of Pavarotti’s passing. I know that the video quality isn’t the greatest, but I encourage you to listen as you read along in Italian and then play it again and read along in English.
Italian Text of ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima’
Una furtiva lagrima
negli occhi suoi spuntò:
Quelle festose giovani
invidiar sembrò.
Che più cercando io vo?
Che più cercando io vo?
M’ama! Sì, m’ama, lo vedo. Lo vedo.
Un solo instante i palpiti
del suo bel cor sentir!
I miei sospir, confondere
per poco a’ suoi sospir!
I palpiti, i palpiti sentir,
confondere i miei coi suoi sospir…
Cielo! Si può morir!
Di più non chiedo, non chiedo.
Ah, cielo! Si può! Si, può morir!
Di più non chiedo, non chiedo.
Si può morire! Si può morir d’amor.
English Translation of ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima’
A single secret tear
from her eye did spring:
as if she envied all the youths
that laughingly passed her by.
What more searching need I do?
What more searching need I do?
She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it.
For just an instant the beating
of her beautiful heart I could feel!
As if my sighs were hers,
and her sighs were mine!
The beating, the beating of her heart I could feel,
to merge my sighs with hers…
Heavens! Yes, I could die!
I could ask for nothing more, nothing more.
Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die!
I could ask for nothing more, nothing more.
Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.
-emily
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