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: | aria |
Role(s): | Cherubino |
Voice(s): | Mezzo-Soprano |
Act: | 2.04 |
| Previous scene: | Quanto duolmi Susanna |
| Next scene: | Bravo che bella voce! |
The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze Di Figaro) - the famous comedy opera by Mozart - Voi Che Sapete sung by Maria Ewing (an American) in the "breeches" role of Cherubino opposite the opera legend Kiri Te Kanawa (a New Zealander). Maria was only in her 20s in this superlative performance - 1975 performance directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, music by Karl Bohm conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, with Hermann Prey (Figaro), Mirella Freni (Susanna), Kiri Te Kanawa (La Contessa di Almaviva), Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau (Il Conte di Almaviva), and Maria Ewing (Cherubino).
Lyrics:
Tell me what love is, what can it be
What is this yearning burning me?
Can I survive it, will I endure?
This is my sickness, is there a cure?
First this obsession seizing my brain,
Starting in passion, ending in pain.
I start to shiver, then I'm on fire,
Then I'm aquiver with seething desire.
Who knows the secret, who holds the key?
I long for something - what can it be?
My brain is reeling, I wonder why;
And then the feeling I'm going to die.
By day it haunts me, haunts me by night.
This tender torment, tinged with delight!
Tell me what love is, what can it be?
What is this yearning, burning in me?
What is this yearning, burning in me?
What is this yearning, burning in me?
CHERUBINO
Voi che sapete
che cosa è amor,
donne, vedete
s'io l'ho nel cor.
Quello ch'io provo
vi ridirò,
è per me nuovo,
capir nol so.
Sento un affetto
pien di desir,
ch'ora è diletto,
ch'ora è martir.
Gelo e poi sento
l'alma avvampar,
e in un momento
torno a gelar.
Ricerco un bene
fuori di me,
non so chi'l tiene,
non so cos'è.
Sospiro e gemo
senza voler,
palpito e tremo
senza saper.
Non trovo pace
notte né dì,
ma pur mi piace
languir così.
Voi che sapete
che cosa è amor,
donne, vedete
s'io l'ho nel cor.
CHERUBINO
You ladies
Who know what love is,
See if it is
What I have in my heart.
All that I feel
I will explain;
Since it is new to me,
I don't understand it.
I have a feeling
Full of desire,
Which now is pleasure,
Now is torment.
I freeze, then I feel
My spirit all ablaze,
And the next moment
Turn again to ice.
I seek for a treasure
Outside of myself;
I know not who holds it
Nor what it is.
I sigh and I groan
Without wishing to,
I flutter and tremble
Without knowing why.
I find no peace
By night or day,
But yet to languish thus
Is sheer delight.
You ladies
Who know what love is,
See if it is
What I have in my heart.







| Sheetmusic for aria | |
| Sheetmusic for opera | |
| MP3's for this aria | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |