Opera title: | Le Nozze di Figaro |
Composer: | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
Language: | Italian |
Synopsis: | Le Nozze di Figaro Synopsis |
Libretto: | Le Nozze di Figaro Libretto |
Translation(s): | English |
Type: | recitative |
Role(s): | Rosina |
Voice(s): | Soprano |
Act: | 3.10 |
Previous scene: | Andiam andiam bel paggio |
Next scene: | Dove sono i bei momenti |
Revolution is in the air in David McVicar’s production of Mozart’s glorious comic opera. Ellie Dehn (Countess Almaviva) and Sophie Bevan (Susanna) perform the 'Sull'aria' duet from Act III of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Watch the full recording from 7pm on Friday 5 March via ROH Stream:
Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) was Mozart's first collaboration with Lorenzo da Ponte, who also wrote the librettos for Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte. The opera is based on Pierre Caron de Beaumarchais' controversial play Le Mariage de Figaro, which was banned in Vienna for its potentially provocative content. David McVicar sets the action in a château in 1830 on the eve of France's second revolution, exploring the political and class conflicts at the core of Beaumarchais' play, but also maintaining Mozart and Da Ponte's humanity and wit.
The score of Le nozze di Figaro is packed full of wonderful arias covering a huge range of emotions, from the humour of Figaro's ironic farewell to Cherubino ('Non più andrai') to the poignancy of 'Dove sono', as the Countess remembers past happiness. Figaro was a success in Vienna, and even more so in Prague, where Mozart reported 'nothing but Figaro!' was heard. It has remained one of the composer's best-loved works ever since.
LA CONTESSA
E Susanna non vien! Sono ansiosa
di saper come il Conte
accolse la proposta. Alquanto ardito
il progetto mi par, e ad uno sposo
sì vivace, e geloso!
Ma che mal c'è? Cangiando i miei vestiti
con quelli di Susanna, e i suoi co' miei...
al favor della notte... oh cielo, a quale
umil stato fatale io son ridotta
da un consorte crudel, che dopo avermi
con un misto inaudito
d'infedeltà, di gelosia, di sdegni,
prima amata, indi offesa, e alfin tradita,
fammi or cercar da una mia serva aita!
Dove sono i bei momenti
di dolcezza e di piacer,
dove andaro i giuramenti
di quel labbro menzogner?
Perché mai se in pianti e in pene
per me tutto si cangiò,
la memoria di quel bene
dal mio sen non trapassò?
Ah! Se almen la mia costanza
nel languire amando ognor,
mi portasse una speranza
di cangiar l'ingrato cor.
parte
COUNTESS
Susanna's not come! I'm impatient
To know what the Count said
To her proposal; the plan seems to me
Somewhat rash, and with a husband
So impetuous and jealous ...
But where's the harm?
To change my clothes
With those of Susanna, and hers with mine,
Under cover of darkness ... Oh heavens!
To what humiliation am I reduced
By a cruel husband, who after having
First loved me, then neglected and finally
Deceived me, in a strange mixture
Of infidelity, jealousy and disdain,
Now forces me to seek help from my servant!
Where are those happy moments
Of sweetness and pleasure?
Where have they gone,
Those vows of a deceiving tongue?
Then why, if everything for me
Is changed to tears and grief,
Has the memory oft hat happiness
Not faded from my breast?
Ah! if only my constancy
In yearning lovingly for him always
Could bring the hope
Of changing his ungrateful heart!
Exit
Sheetmusic for recitative | Sheetmusicplus.com |
Sheetmusic for opera | Sheetmusicplus.com |
MP3's for this recitative | on Amazon.com |
DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |