THE VOICES
When I was a child, it was Enrico Caruso singing the operatic arias from Puccini, Verdi, Handel, and Haydn. Then it was Luciano Pavarotti.
Today, to name a few, it is Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, James Blunt, Sarah Brightman, Michael Bublé, Charlotte Church, Jerry Curry, Placido Domingo, Annie Lennox, John Mayer, Bette Middler, Paul McCartney, Reba McEntyre, Sarah McLachlan -- and Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett from the past -- who belted out the great songs.
One of my favorites is E Lucevan le Stelle, How the Stars Shimmer, from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca:
ITALIAN:
“E lucevan le stelle, e olezzava la terra, stridea l'uscio dell'orto. E un passo sfiorava la rena. Entrava ella, fragrante, mi cadea fra le braccia. Oh dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli. Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore. L'ora è fuggita. E muoio disperato.
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita.”
ENGLISH:
“How the stars seemed to shimmer, the sweet scents of the garden,
how the creaking gate whispered, and a footstep skimmed over the sand, how she then entered, so fragrant,
and then fell into my two arms.
“Ah sweetest of kiss, languorous caresses, while I stood trembling, searching her features concealed by her mantle. My dreams of pure love, forgotten forever. All of it's gone now.
“I die hopeless, despairing, and never before have I loved life like this.”
In the opera story, the painter Cavaradossi has been sentenced to death for helping to hide an escaped political prisoner. As he awaits his fate, he sings of the sweet memories of his beloved Tosca and his dashed dreams.
It is a classic love story told with lovely voices – tenors, baritones, sopranos, altos – and wonderful accompanying instruments – violins, cellos, piano, organ, horns of all sorts, drums and other percussion – an absolute musical feast.
Voices and music of all sorts feed the heart and keep us alive forever.
“I will take your hand and I understand. I will be by your side. I will always be in your arms. I promise you. We’ll always be together. There’s nothing in this world I would not do for you.”
Voices tell the story of life. We live it. But we love the voices that tell it all.
