Voi lo sapete – Cavalleria Rusticana

You know, o mother,    

Before he went to be a soldier,

Turiddu swore eternal faith

To Lola.                       

He returned, he found her married;

And with a new love.

He wanted to extinguish the flame

That was burning his heart:

He loved me, I loved him.

She, envious of my every delight,

Forgotten by her husband,

Burning with jealousy...

She stole him from me...

I am left devoid of honour:

Lola and Turiddu love one another,

I weep, I weep!

Fabulous Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova sings Santuzza's aria from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.

Tokyo, 1980.

Quando le sere al placido – Luisa Miller

Oh! I wish I could deny my own eyes!

If heaven and earth, if mortals and angels

Were to swear to me that she is not guilty...

Lies! I should answer,

All lies...this is her hand!

So much treachery!  A black soul!

A liar! Well my father knew her!

But all the promises, the hopes, the joy,

the tears, the anguish?

Everything is a lie, betrayal, deception!

When in the evenings in the calm

Pale light of a starry sky

She gazed with me into the heavens

With a look of love,

And I felt this hand pressed

By her hand...

Ah! She betrayed me!

I was mute, ecstatic,

Hanging from her lips.

When she said in angelic tones

‘I love only you’,

It seemed like the world

Opened to my soul!

Placido Domingo sings the famous tenor aria from Verdi's Luisa Miller.

Covent Garden, 1979.

Eri tu che macchiavi – Un Ballo in Maschera

It isn’t her, no, not her

Fragile breast that I must strike.

Another, fine, another’s blood must wipe away

The offense! . . .

Your blood!

And I will draw the dagger

From your treacherous heart,

The avenger of my tears!

It was you who tainted that soul,

The delight of my soul;

Who confided in me and in one condemnable instant

Poisoned the universe for me!

Traitor! In such a manner you repay

The faith of your former friend!

O lost delights! O memories

Of an embrace that rendered happiness! . . .

When Amelia so beautiful, so pure

On my breast shone with love!

It is finished, nothing remains but hatred

And death in my widower’s heart!

O lost delights, O hopes of love!

Rolando Panerai sings Renato's aria from Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera.

Film, 1958.

Short vid

Addio, fiorito asil – Madama Butterfly

Yes, all in an instant

I see my mistake and I feel

That from this torment

I will have no respite.

Forever that mild countenance

I will see, with excruciating agony,

Forever that sweet voice

I will hear mourning.

Farewell flowery refuge

Of joy and love

I cannot bear your misery

I must run away, I must run away – I am vile.

Peter Dvorsky as Pinkerton in Puccini's Madame Butterfly. With Richard Stilwell as Sharpless.

Chicago, 1985.