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.

Re dell’abisso, affrettati – Un Ballo in Maschera

Commoners

Quiet... you must not disturb the incantation.

The devil will be here to talk soon.

Ulrica

King of the Abyss, make haste,

Plunge down through the skies,

Without soaring, the lightning

Penetrates my roof.

Now three times, the hoopoe

Breathed on high;

The fire breathing salamander

Hissed three times...

And the groaning of the tombs

Spoke to me three times.

Riccardo

I’m going to the front!

Commoners

Villain, get in the back.

Oh, how everything shines with darkness!

Ulrica

It’s him, it’s him! Now I feel

The palpitations again.

The pleasure to burn again

In his awful embrace!

The light of the future

He holds in his left hand.

He was pleased with my spell

He blazes once again:

Nothing, nothing more will be hidden

From my gaze!

Commoners

Long live the witch!

Ulrica

Silence, silence!

Bulgarian contralto Mariana Pentcheva as Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. Extraordinary performance! And a stunning low note at the end.

La Scala, 2001. Conductor: Riccardo Muti.