Lo sognai ferito esangue

from Il Pirata by Vincenzo Bellini. Concert in Hamburg, May 15, 1959. Nicola Rescigno conductor.

Belcanto: the exquisite vocal color and line, the care taken with the words, the emotional intensity, and the technique (even scales, pure legato, imposing low register...)

The "digli che respi _ _ _ ri" line is wonderful (2:16).

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IL PIRATA (The Pirate) is an opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani. It premiered at La Scala on October 27, 1827.

Sicily. 13th century. Final scene. Gualtiero has killed Ernesto, Duke of Caldora. He gives himself up to justice, and prays that Imogene may forgive him. She appears in a state of anguish and sees visions of her dead husband and her son ("Col sorriso d'innocenza"). Meanwhile, the Council of Knights has condemned Gualtiero to death...


Col sorriso d'innocenza,
collo sguardo dell'amore,
di perdono e di clemenza,
deh! favella, sì, al genitor,
deh! favella al genitor.
Digli, ah! digli che respiri,
digli che sei libero per me,
che pietoso un guardo ei giri
a chi tanto, sì, a chi tanto per te oprò.

(With the smile of innocence,
with the glance of love
pray speak to your father
of clemency and pardon.
Pray speak to your father.
Tell him, ah tell him that you live,
tell him that you are free because of me,
so that he may look mercifully
upon the one who did so much for you.)

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IL PIRATA - Maria Callas, New York 1959 (Complete Opera Bellini):

Imogene's long entrance scene with her dreams and fears (first - an image of her lover Gualtiero in blood; then excessively - her husband): Sorgete...Lo sognai ferito, esangue:
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