Hubby and I both have very eclectic taste when it comes to music. Our music collection has rag-time Jazz, post war Blues, early Dylan, Franz Ferdinand, Meatloaf, Pavarotti, Bob Marley, Santana and much, much more. You get the picture, the whole range collected over forty odd years. Although we have always had some classical music, this liking is something which has developed more with age. At one time, Hubby in particular, could not stand, and I quote 'one of those screeching females', namely a soprano. So I was somewhat amazed when he brought home 'O Mio Babbino Caro' which is a collection of famous soprano arias from Italian Operas. I was even more surprised when he admitted that the title track could just about reduce him to tears, although I can see how it could.
O Mio Babbino Caro.(My dear Father)
This, the title track, is taken from Giacomo Puccini's opera Gianni Schicci. This opera was part of a trilogy of operas dating back to 1918 and was first performed at the Metropolitan opera in New York. This aria is a daughter pleading with her father and is a lovely piece of music. I have heard this performed many times, by many different voices and, although this version is not my favourite, I still love it.
Qui la voce sua soave(Here the tender
voice)
From the 1835 The Puritans by Vincenzo Bellini. This opera is set in the English Civil War and this track basically is a lover imagining she hears her lovers voice. It is a light and frothy sort of aria.
Si mi chiamano Mimi (They call me Mimi)
Taken from Puccini's La Boheme which is generally thought to be one of the most romantic operas of all time and was first staged in 1896. Lucia, known to her friends as Mimi, introduces herself in this song to her new neighbour the poet Rodolfo.
Quando m'en vo'(When I go along the street people stop and look at me)
Also from La Boheme, Mimi this time is trying to get her former lover, Marcello, jealous.
Ebbe? N'andro' Iontana (Well I shall go far away from here)
From an opera with a name which has derisory connotations these days 'La Wally' Wally the heroine expresses her intention to leave the Tyrolean village which is home rather than marry her father's choice of man.
Un be divider(One fine day we shall see a plume of smoke)
Puccini's Madame Butterfly, set in Nagasaki with the female lead character Cio-Cio-San singing of her hope that Pinkerton, the American naval officer and the father of her child will return and marry her. I think many readers would know the basic tune of this aria even if they could not exactly place it into an opera. It is a powerful track both musically and vocally.
Caro nomme(Dear name)
Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto has many pieces of music which will be somewhat familiar. This 1851 opera has a powerful dramatic theme to it.
La mamma morta.(Mother dead)
Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano is set in the French revolution and Maddelena tells of her mother's death and the loss of the family chateau
Vissi darte( I lived for art, I lived for love).
Tosca , Puccini's opera and heroine
Ah fors e lui (Ah perhaps it is him my heart desires)
Verdi's La Traviata was first aired in Venice in 1853 and was not very successful. It is such a famous opera these days that it is hard to believe that it initially failed. Violetta meets Alfredo for the first time and wonders if she has found true love. Violetta ultimately dies as do so many opera heroines.
Sempre libera(Always free)
One of my favourite tracks were Violetta in La Traviata again try to still the thoughts of love. Her voice trills around a terrific piece of music.
Ch'llbel sogno di Doretta.(The fine dream of Doretta
Puccini's La Rondine, The Swallow, is one of Puccini's less popular operas and another tale of love.
Una voce poco fa(A voice a moment ago, in my heart.
From Il barbered Siviglia(The Barber of Seville) by Rossini.
In quelle trine morbid (Amid these soft lace curtains)
Manon Lescaut by Puccini. The female heroine complains that poverty with the love of her life would have been preferable to the life of luxury with an old man in a loveless relationship, which she had.
Signore Ascolata(Listen, sir)
Turandot was unfinished by Puccini when he died in 1924 and features love and then death as a central theme.
Da'amour sull ali rosee(On the rosy wings of love)
Verdi's Il trovatore(The troubadour) is reputed to have a complex plot but it still involves love.
Pace, Pace(Peace, peace)
From Verdi's La forza del destino(The force of destiny) First performed in Russia in 1862 . More death and love amid family troubles.
Voi lo sapete o Mamma(You know, Mamma)
Mascagni's 1890 opera Cavalleria rustic Ana(Rustic Chivalry) is set in a Scicilian village and is a tale of love jealousy and death.
Overall
O Mio Babbino Caro will not suit all listeners, obviously. It will not even appeal to all opera lovers. However for me it is a collection of 18 classic tracks that all have something to attract. I am no opera buff but enjoy these female arias which all have great musical backing. Some have male voices accompanying them but in the main they are female tracks.
None of them are sung in English but the words do not matter. The language is so fitting to the music and the strength of feeling comes through. However if you are interested the sleeve notes have the words of each track in Italian and then in English. As you have guessed from my snippets regarding each track, many of these operas are about unrequited love, death and strife but they are never boring.
For me it is such a relaxing collection I can close my eyes and drift of to another world and time. Oh ,and, O Mio Babbino Caro can bring a tear to my eye also.
This compilation can be purchased from around £5 from many sources.
Thanks for reading
© Eiley 2008.
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28.02.2008 21:22
Sounds wonderful. I* would love it - you never know, its mother's day Sunday. Maureen x x
27.02.2008 21:22
Brilliant sounds wonderful, I think I would really enjoy this.
27.02.2008 20:46
great review