Dame Joan Sutherland – “A Mezzanotte” Aria da Camera – Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848).<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Dame Joan Sutherland Soprano
\nM.\u00b0 Richard Bonynge Piano<\/p>\n
LIVE at Ambassador College – Pasadena – California – US – 1975.<\/p>\n
A mezzanotte (Lyrics by Anonymous)<\/p>\n
Quando notte sar\u00e0 oscura
\ne le stelle in ciel vedrai,
\ncheto, cheto mi verrai
\nnel mio asilo a ritrovar.
\nNel silenzio della notte
\ndentr’all’umile mio tetto,
\nvieni pure, o mio diletto,
\nla tua ninfa a consolar:
\ncanta pur la tua canzone
\nch’io t’attendo sul balcone.
\nah!<\/p>\n
Ma non debbo a te soltanto
\naprir l’uscio a notte bruna:
\ncoprirebbesi la luna
\nvereconda in suo pudor.
\nNoi due soli non saremo,
\nverecondia nol consente,
\nvu\u00f2 che un terzo sia presente
\ne quel terzo sia l’amor.
\nCanta pur la tua canzone,
\nch’io t’attendo sul balcone,
\nio t’attendo a mezzanotte,
\ncheto cheto ne verrai,
\nnoi due soli non saremo,
\nvu\u00f2 che il terzo sia l’amor.
\nah!<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
At midnight (Lyrics by Anonymous)<\/p>\n
When night turns dark
\nand you see the stars in the sky,
\nsilently, silently, you will come
\nto find my solitary dwelling.
\nIn the silence of night
\ninside, under my humble roof,
\ncome then, o my delight,
\nto make your darling happy.
\nSing your song
\nwhile I wait for you on the balcony.
\nAh!<\/p>\n
But not for you alone must I
\nopen the threshold to the dark night:
\nthe moon in her modesty
\nwould cover herself for shame.
\nWe two will not be alone;
\nmodesty would not allow it.
\nIt wants a third person to be present,
\nand that third is love.
\nThen sing your song
\nwhile I wait for you on the balcony.
\nI expect you at midnight,
\nsilently, silently you will come,
\nwe two will not be alone,
\nthe third must be love.
\nAh!<\/p>\n