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• 15 Mar 2017

Dame Joan Sutherland – “A Mezzanotte” Aria da Camera – Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848).

“A lovely recording of Donizetti’s charming Mezzanotte (Quando notte sara oscura). Dame Joan would go on to record this piece in 1978, but I find this live performance much fresher.”

Dame Joan Sutherland Soprano
M.° Richard Bonynge Piano

LIVE at Ambassador College – Pasadena – California – US – 1975.

A mezzanotte (Lyrics by Anonymous)

Quando notte sarà oscura
e le stelle in ciel vedrai,
cheto, cheto mi verrai
nel mio asilo a ritrovar.
Nel silenzio della notte
dentr’all’umile mio tetto,
vieni pure, o mio diletto,
la tua ninfa a consolar:
canta pur la tua canzone
ch’io t’attendo sul balcone.
ah!

Ma non debbo a te soltanto
aprir l’uscio a notte bruna:
coprirebbesi la luna
vereconda in suo pudor.
Noi due soli non saremo,
verecondia nol consente,
vuò che un terzo sia presente
e quel terzo sia l’amor.
Canta pur la tua canzone,
ch’io t’attendo sul balcone,
io t’attendo a mezzanotte,
cheto cheto ne verrai,
noi due soli non saremo,
vuò che il terzo sia l’amor.
ah!

–

At midnight (Lyrics by Anonymous)

When night turns dark
and you see the stars in the sky,
silently, silently, you will come
to find my solitary dwelling.
In the silence of night
inside, under my humble roof,
come then, o my delight,
to make your darling happy.
Sing your song
while I wait for you on the balcony.
Ah!

But not for you alone must I
open the threshold to the dark night:
the moon in her modesty
would cover herself for shame.
We two will not be alone;
modesty would not allow it.
It wants a third person to be present,
and that third is love.
Then sing your song
while I wait for you on the balcony.
I expect you at midnight,
silently, silently you will come,
we two will not be alone,
the third must be love.
Ah!