È la solita storia – L’arlesiana

It’s the old story of the shepherd...
The poor boy that wanted

To recount it

And he fell asleep

There is oblivion in sleep.

How I envy him!

I would like to sleep like that as well,

To at least find oblivion in sleep!

I am looking only for peace.

I would like to be able to forget it all!

But every effort is in vain.

I have always before me

Her sweet countenance.

Peace is only taken from me.

Why must I suffer so?

Her! She is always speaking to my heart!

Irresistible vision, leave me!

You hurt me so badly! Alas!

Jose Carreras sings Federico's lament from Cilea's L'arlesiana.

Colon, 1987.

Acerba Voluttà – Adriana Lecouvreur

Bitter pleasure, sweet torture,

Slow agony, quick offense,

Blaze, frost, tremor, restlessness, fear,

For the lover who waits expectantly!

Every echo, every shadow in the kindling night

Conspires against the impatient soul:

Everything is suspended between doubt and desire,

One moment is an eternity…

Will he come? Has he forgotten me? Will he hasten to me? Or will he turn back?

Here he comes!...No, it is the sound of the river,

Mixed with the sighs of a dormant tree….

O vagabond eastern star,

Do not set: smile on the universe,

And guard my love, if he does not mind the way!...

Elena Obraztsova sings the aria of Princess d'Bouillon from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur.

Tokyo, 1980.