Oh quante volte – I Capuleti e Montecchi

Oh! How many times,
Oh! How many I ask you
Crying to heaven
With the ardour of waiting for you,
My desire is a trick!
The rays of your countenance
Are for me, the brightness of the day.
The aura that blows round
Seems to be one of your sighs.

Katia Ricciarelli sings 'Oh quante volte' from Bellini's I Capuleti e I Montecchi.

Tu che di gel sei cinta – Turandot

You, encircled with ice,
Are defeated by numerous flames
You will love him, even you!
Before this dawn
I close my tired eyes

Because if he yet wins...
Not to see him anymore!

Katia Ricciarelli gives a very moving performance as Liu. Jose Carreras is Calaf, Eva Marton is Turandot and John Paul Bogart is Timur.

Vienna, 1983. Conductor: Lorin Maazel.

Chi mi frena – Lucia di Lammermoor

Edgardo
(Who’s stopping me in such a moment?
Who’s cutting short the course of anger?
Her pain, her fear
They are the proof of remorse!
But, that fading rose,
She is between life and death...
I am overcome... I am moved!...
I love you, ungrateful woman, I love you still!)

Enrico
(Who is trying to stop my fury

And the hand that’s stroking the sword?
In favor of the poor girl
A cry arose in my breast!
She is my blood! I have betrayed her!
She is between life and death...
Oh! I cannot prevent
My heart’s remorse.)

Lucia

(I had hoped that my fear
would have ended my life...
But death is no help to me...
I still live for my torment!
The veil has fallen from my eyes,
Heaven and earth have betrayed me!
I would like to weep, but I can’t...

Even my tears have abandoned me!)

Raimondo, Arturo

(What a terrible moment!
I am without words...
A dense cloud [veil] of fear
Is covering the rays of the sun!
Like a wilting rose
She is between life and death
Whoever is not moved for her
Has a heart of stone.)

The great sextet from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

Edgardo: José Carreras
Lucia: Katia Ricciarelli
Enrico: Leo Nucci
Raimondo: John Paul Bogart
Arturo: John Dickie
Alisa: Waltraud Winsauer

Bregenz, 1982. Conductor: Lamberto Gardelli.

Signore, ascolta - Turandot

Sir, listen! Ah, sir, listen!
Liu can bear no more!
Her heart is breaking! My, how long I’ve walked
With your name in my soul
With your name on these lips!
But if your destiny
Tomorrow, will be decided,

We will die on the road of exile.
He’ll lose his son

I, the shadow of a smile.
Liù can bear no more! Ah! Ah!

Katia Ricciarelli sings Liu's first act aria in Puccini's Turandot.

Vienna, 1983. Conductor: Lorin Maazel.

Mad Scene – Lucia di Lammermoor

The sweet sound of his voice struck me!

Ah, that voice it is here down in my heart!

Edgardo! I surrender to you. Edgardo! Ah! my Edgardo! Yes, I surrender!

I have escaped from your enemies.

A cold wind blows through my chest!

Shaking  every fiber!

My foot falters!

Let’s sit down near the fountain awhile! Yes, let’s sit down near the fountain.

Alas, the terrifying ghost rises and separates us!

Let’s take shelter here, Edgardo, at the foot of the altar.

It is covered with roses!

A heavenly harmony, tell me, don’t you hear it?

Ah, the sound of the wedding song!

They’re preparing the ritual for us! Oh, I’m so happy!

Oh the joy that one feels, and can’t explain!

The incense is burning!

The sacred torches are blazing, shining all around!

Here is the minister!

Give me your right hand!

Oh glad day!

At last I am yours, at last you are mine,

A god is giving you to me.

Every wonderful pleasure

I want to share with you

A laugh from merciful heaven,

Life will be for us.

Katia Ricciarelli in the epic mad scene from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. 

Bregenz, 1982. Conductor: Lamberto Gardelli.