Excerpt from a 1967 recording of Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata".
Violetta Valéry: Montserrat Caballé
Conductor: Georges Prêtre RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra and Chorus
I may have expressed my overall dislike for "La Traviata" in the past, but like most operas, it's bound to land at least a number or a scene, or two, and this particular moment, Violetta's sad, austere swan song, is the one single scene in the opera I can enjoy unabashedly. With her gorgeous middle and floating pianissimi, this aria fits Caballé like a glove, not to mention she gets to sing both verses AND colours them differently.
Lyrics here:
Watch videos with other singers performing Addio del passato:
VIOLETTA Trae dal seno una lettera "Teneste la promessa... la disfida Ebbe luogo! il barone fu ferito, Però migliora Alfredo È in stranio suolo; il vostro sacrifizio Io stesso gli ho svelato; Egli a voi tornerà pel suo perdono; Io pur verrò. Curatevi... meritate Un avvenir migliore. - Giorgio Germont". desolata È tardi! Si alza Attendo, attendo né a me giungon mai! . . . Si guarda allo specchio Oh, come son mutata! Ma il dottore a sperar pure m'esorta! Ah, con tal morbo ogni speranza è morta. Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti, Le rose del volto già son pallenti; L'amore d'Alfredo pur esso mi manca, Conforto, sostegno dell'anima stanca Ah, della traviata sorridi al desio; A lei, deh, perdona; tu accoglila, o Dio, Or tutto finì. Le gioie, i dolori tra poco avran fine, La tomba ai mortali di tutto è confine! Non lagrima o fiore avrà la mia fossa, Non croce col nome che copra quest'ossa! Ah, della traviata sorridi al desio; A lei, deh, perdona; tu accoglila, o Dio. Or tutto finì!
English Libretto or Translation:
VIOLETTA Nothing will happen to me … But please hurry. Annina goes out. Violetta draws a letter from her breast and reads it in a low voice, speaking in time to the music. "You kept your promise ... The duel took place. The Baron was wounded, But is getting better ... Alfredo is abroad. I have told him of your sacrifice. He is coming back to ask your pardon … I shall come too. Take care of yourself ... You deserve a better future. Georges Germont .- sadly It's too late! getting up I wait and wait, but they never come! She looks at herself in the glass. How changed I am! But the Doctor still urges me to hope! With such a disease All hope is dead!
Farewell, happy dreams of by?gone days; The roses in my cheeks already are faded. Even Alfredo's love is lacking, To comfort and uphold my weary spirit. Oh, comfort, sustain an erring soul, And may God pardon and make her his own! Ah, all is over, All is over now.