The New Zealand soprano, Malvina Major, was an audience favourite in her home country but, as expected, always in the shadow of the supreme Kiri Te Kanawa. Though Malvina Major's operatic career was sporadic, even in New Zealand, she performed operatic roles thrice internationally - Rosina in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA in Salzburg in July 1968 (singing two performances in a run substituting for the wonderful Teresa Berganza), a role in Mozart's LA FINTA GIARDINIERA in Brussels in 1986 and Rosalinde in DIE FLEDERMAUS at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden (replacing Nancy Gustafson) in 1990. Here she is with the great baritone, Herman Prey, in the duet from Act One of Rossini's IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA - "Dunque io son...tu non m'inganni?" from Salzburg July 28th 1968. (The photo above shows Malvina Major with Fernando Corena who played Dr Bartolo in the production)
Watch videos with other singers performing Dunque io son:
ROSINA Dunque io son ... tu non m'inganni? Dunque io son la fortunata! . . tra sé Già me l'ero immaginata: lo sapevo pria di te.
FIGARO Di Lindoro il vago oggetto siete voi, bella Rosina. tra se' Oh, die volpe sopraffina, ma l'avrà da far con me.
ROSINA Senti, senti ... ma a Lindoro per parlar come si fa?
FIGARO Zitto, zitto, qui Lindoro per parlarvi or or sarà.
ROSINA Per parlarmi? ... Bravo! bravo! Venga pur, ma con prudenza; io già moro d'impazienza! Ma che tarda? ... ma che fa?
FIGARO Egli attende qualche segno, poverin, del vostro affetto; sol due righe di biglietto gli mandate, e qui verrà. Che ne dite?
ROSINA Non vorrei...
FIGARO Su, coraggio.
ROSINA Non saprei …
FIGARO Sol due righe …
ROSINA Mi vergogno...
FIGARO Ma di che? Ma di che? ... si sa! andando allo scrittoio Presto, presto; qua un biglietto.
ROSINA Richiamandolo, cava dalla tasca il biglietto e glielo dà. Un biglietto? ... eccolo qua.
FIGARO attonito Già era scritto? Ve', che bestia! Il maestro faccio a lei! Ah, che in cattedra costei di malizia può dettar. Donne, donne, eterni Dei, chi vi arriva a indovinar? Qui verrà. A momenti per parlar qui sarà.
ROSINA Fortunati affetti miei! Io comincio a respirar. Ah, tu solo, amor, tu sei che mi devi consolar!
English Libretto or Translation:
Duet
ROSINA Then it is I … You are not mocking me? Then I am the fortunate girl! (But I had already guessed it, I knew it all along.) etc.
FIGARO You are, sweet Rosina, of Lindoro's love, the object. (Oh, what a cunning little fox! But she'll have to deal with me.) etc.
ROSINA But tell me, to Lindoro how shall I contrive to speak?
FIGARO Patience, patience, and Lindoro soon your presence here will seek.
ROSINA To speak to me? Bravo! Bravo! Let him come, but with caution, meanwhile I am dying of impatience! Why is he delayed? What is he doing?
FIGARO He is awaiting some sign, poor man, of your affection; send him but two lines and you will see him here. What do you say to this?
ROSINA I shouldn't see him …
FIGARO Come, courage.
ROSINA I don't know …
FIGARO Only two lines …
ROSINA I am too shy.
FIGARO But why? But why? Quickly, quickly, give me a note.
ROSINA A note? … Here it is.
She takes a letter from her bsom and gives it to him
FIGARO (Already written … What a fool I am! She could give me a lesson or two!)
ROSINA Fortune smiles on my love, I can breathe once more.
FIGARO (in cunning itself she could be a professor.)
ROSINA Oh, you alone, my love, can console my heart.
FIGARO (Women, women, eternal gods, who can fathom their minds?) etc.
ROSINA Oh, you alone, my love, can console my heart. etc.
ROSINA Tell me, but Lindoro …
FIGARO Is on his way. In a few minutes he'll be here to speak to you.
ROSINA Let him come, but with caution.
FIGARO Patience, patience, he'll be here.
ROSINA Fortune smiles on my love, I can breathe once more. Oh, you alone, my love, can console my heart. etc.
FIGARO (Women, women, eternal gods, who can fathom their minds?) etc.