Non mi dir bell'idol mio

Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (7 November 1926 - 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s. One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's Alcina. She possessed a voice of beauty and power, combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, "supremely" pinpoint staccatos, a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register, although music critics often complained about the imprecision of her diction. Her friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century"; Montserrat Caballé described the Australian's voice as being like "heaven"...

Lyrics & English Translation

DON OCTAVIO
Yes, all now reassures us;
The hand of justice will soon arrest his course
Of guilt and folly, and we shall be aveng'd.

DONNA ANNA
My father, I've lost him!

DON OCTAVIO
What is decreed by heaven
We must patiently bear,
Oh, rouse thee, my dearest, from the sad recollection;
Brighter days are before thee, say to-morrow
Thou wilt bless my affection,
Let thy hand be the pledge.

DONNA ANNA
Ah, no, how can'st thou speak of joy when I'm weeping?

DON OCTAVIO
Ah then, since faithful love or pray'rs cannot move thee,
Too well I see that thou dost not love me!

DONNA ANNA
Not love thee? Ah, ne'er believe it!
Could I accept, while my tears yet freshly flow,
The blest fulfilment of my heart's dearest wishes?
I cannot, I dare not, ah, nor seek to persuade me,
Till my grief is assuaged,
All my heart is thine own, of that be certain.

Tell me not, oh, thou belov'd one,
That thou'rt constant to me in vain,
That I love thee, ah well thou know'st it,
That I'll ever thine remain,
Stay, oh stay thy fond misgiving,
Doubt me not, oh I conjure thee;
Love and hope do both, do both assure me,
That kind heaven yet will smile, will smile again.

DON OTTAVIO - Nicolai Gedda


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I send my kind and warm regards,