Opera title: | Rigoletto |
Composer: | Giuseppe Verdi |
Language: | Italian |
Synopsis: | Rigoletto Synopsis |
Libretto: | Rigoletto Libretto |
Translation(s): | English Deutsch |
Type: | quartet |
Role(s): | Gilda / Maddalena / Duke of Mantua / Rigoletto |
Voice(s): | Soprano / Contralto / Tenor / Baritone |
Act: | 4.04 |
| Previous scene: | Un di se ben rammentomi |
| Next scene: | Venti scudi hai tu detto |
The aria Bella figlia dell'amore (Fairest daughter of love) is from the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave.
This is the famous quartet. The Duke is singing to Maddalena. Gilda sees this happen through a window and is heartbroken. Rigoletto tells his daughter what a bad man her “true love†is (and that he’ll do something about it).
0:00 Enrico Caruso (tenor), Bessie Abbot (soprano), Antonio Scotti (baritone), Louise Homer (mezzo-soprano) Rec 20th Feb 1907
4:04 John McCormack (tenor), Dame Nellie Melba (soprano), Mario Sammarco (baritone), Edna Thornton (contralto) Rec 11th May 1910
7:57 Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor), Maria Callas (soprano), Tito Gobbi (baritone), Adriana Lazzarini (contralto) Rec 1956
12:41 Jussi Bjorling (tenor), Roberta Peters (soprano), Robert Merrill (baritone), Anna Maria Rota (contralto) Rec 1956
I have tried to get the best possible sound from the old recordings and, just for a live effect with more presence and to give a smooth noise free transition between tracks, I have added applause.
A translation of the aria is as follows
DUKE (to Maddalena)
Fairest daughter of love,
I am a slave to your charms;
with but a single word you could
relieve my every pain.
Come, touch my breast and feel
how my heart is racing.
MADDALENA (to Duke)
Ah! Ah! That really makes me laugh;
talk like that is cheap enough.
Believe me, I know exactly
what such play-acting is worth!
I, my fine sir, am quite accustomed
to foolish jokes like this.
Yes yes!
GILDA
O wretched heart betrayed,
do not break for sorrow.
(repeated)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
RIGOLETTO (to Gilda)
You are now convinced he was lying.
Hush, and leave it up to me
to hasten our revenge.
It will be quick, it will be deadly,
I know how to deal with him.
DUCA
Bella figlia dell'amore,
Schiavo son dei vezzi tuoi;
Con un detto sol tu puoi
Le mie pene consolar.
Vieni e senti del mio core
Il frequente palpitar.
MADDALENA
Ah! ah! rido ben di core,
Che tai baie costan poco
Quanto valga il vostro gioco,
Mel credete, so apprezzar.
Son avvezza, bel signore,
Ad un simile scherzar.
GILDA
Ah, così parlar d'amore
A me pur intame ho udito!
Infelice cor tradito,
Per angoscia non scoppiar.
RIGOLETTO
a Gilda
Taci, il piangere non vale...
Ch'ei mentiva sei sicura.
Taci, e mia sarà la cura
La vendetta d'affrettar.
Sì, pronta fia, sarà fatale,
Io saprollo fulminar.
M'odi! ritorna a casa.
Oro prendi, un destriero
Una veste viril che t'apprestai,
E per Verona parti.
Sarovvi io pur doman.
GILDA
Or venite...
RIGOLETTO
Impossibil.
GILDA
Tremo.
RIGOLETTO
Va'.
DUKE
Fairest daughter of love,
I am a slave to your charms;
with but a single word you could
relieve my every pain.
Come, touch my breast and feel
how my heart is racing.
MADDALENA
Ah! Ah! That really makes me laugh;
talk like that is cheap enough.
Believe me, I know exactly
what such play?acting is worth!
I, my fine sir, am quite accustomed
to foolish jokes like this.
GILDA
Ah, these are the loving words
the scoundrel spoke once to me!
O wretched heart betrayed
do not break for sorrow.
RIGOLETTO
to Gilda
Hush weeping can do no good...
You are now convinced he was lying.
Hush, and leave it up to me
to hasten our revenge.
It will be quick, it will be deadly,
I know how to deal with him.
Listen to me, go home.
Take some money and a horse,
Put on the men's clothes I provided,
then leave at once for Verona.
I shall meet you there tomorrow.
GILDA
Come with me now.
RIGOLETTO
It's impossible.
GILDA
I'm afraid.
RIGOLETTO
Go!
| Sheetmusic for quartet | |
| Sheetmusic for opera | |
| MP3's for this quartet | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |