OPRY LINKS 12: All-Neapolitan Songs!
Tito Schipa
Saturdee Opry Links Overture!
Donizetti: "Maria Stuarda."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9lGArdXXbw
What is a Neapolitan song?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canzone_Napoletana
No, they are not opera, but they are operatic, and every bit as winning as
any aria. I've long wished that some clever composer would build an opera
with many of the great Tosti Neapolitan songs. . .
Excerpt: Canzone napoletana (pronounced [kanˈtsoːne
napoleˈtaːna]), sometimes referred to as Neapolitan song (Neapolitan:
canzona napulitana
[kanˈdzoːnə napuliˈtɑːnə]), is a generic term for a traditional
form of music sung in the
Neapolitan language, ordinarily for the male voice singing solo,
although well represented by female soloists as well, and expressed in
familiar genres such as the love song and
serenade.
Many of the songs are about the nostalgic longing for Naples as it once was.
1.
Good
Morning. Or Buona Mattinata, if you prefer. Here is
"Mattinata," sung by The Three Tenors.
The dawn, dressed in white. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHU8yFN6LhM
Mattinata (Italian pronunciation: [mattiˈnaːta];
English: "Morning") was the first song ever written expressly for the
Gramophone Company (the present day
HMV). Composed
by
Ruggero Leoncavallo in 1904, this song was dedicated to
Enrico Caruso, who was the first to record it in 1904 with the composer
at the piano. Ever since, this piece has become a concert favourite.
Translation:
http://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=10075
The dawn, dressed in white,
has already opened the door to the sun,
and with pink fingers
caresses the myriads with flowers.
A mysterious trembling seems
to disturb all nature,
yet you will not get up, and vainly
I stand here sadly and sing.
Dress yourself, too, in white
and open the door to your serenader!
Where you are not, all is dark,
where you are, love is born! etc.
About the song, translation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattinata_%28Leoncavallo%29
2.
"Vieni Sul Mar" ("Come to the Sea.")
The honeyed tones of Tito Schipa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrMDEdbQp64
Italian/English translation:
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/vieni-sul-mar-come-sea.html
Translation copyright Jean Peccei
About Tito Schipa:
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tito-schipa-mn0000684181/biography
Pavarotti listens to Schipa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thrb-ZZGsTc
Wake up, girl! The moon
spreads its shining ray on the sea
Come with me.
Your sailor's
dark faithful boat awaits you.
But you sleep and you
don't think of your faithful man.
But those who live for love don't sleep!
At night I fly to you on the shore,
And in the day I fly to you with my heart!
Come out on the sea,
Come rowing with me,
You will feel your sailor's ecstasy!
3.
And
here is another version of "Vieni Sul Mar" that might catch some of you
by surprise!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtwY-xR02B4
4.
"L'alba
Separa Dalla Luce Lombra," ("The
Dawn Divides the Darkness From the Light") by Tosti.
Jussi Bjorling, live at Carnegie Hall, 1955. Astonishing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPu2HOsVEWo
Translation:
http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=203
5.
Already the moon dips into
the sea!
"La Danza," by Rossini. Jussi
Bjorling in a great old film clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw1DnfdGJoE
And here, for fun, is
"La Danza," sung by Mario Lanza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRk-mta7yN4
Translation:
http://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=12532
EXTRA: The stories behind five Neapolitan songs.
https://www.visitnaples.eu/en/neapolitanity/tales-of-naples/the-history-behind-5-of-the-best-neapolitan-songs
6.
The
always poignant, wistful, "Non Ti Scordar Di Me," ("Do
Not Forget Me"), by Ernesto De Curtis, sung here by Angela Gheorghiu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6A5ol1N0B8
Translation:
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/non-ti-scordar-di-me-dont-forget-about-me.html
7.
“Core n’Grato” ("Ungrateful Heart"), The Three Tenors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTq46yOaYWI
Translation:
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/core-039ngrato-ungrateful-heart.html
8.
When the moon is brightly shining. . .
"Ciribiribin"
(Say it ten times fast.) Mario Lanza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi0PZbWoM20
Translation:
http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/c/ciribiribin.shtml
9.
And a version of "Ciribiribin" that might catch of a few of the thousands
of fans of Saturday Opry Links off-guard. Frankie!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzwwWfFhadQ
10. "Vivere!"
("To
Live!")
Carlo Buti, "The Golden Voice of Italy, " also known as the
"Italian Bing Crosby" because of his enormous popularity the the
1920's,1930's,1940's and 1950's he retired in 1956 and died in 1963 after
recording 1574 songs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa2EjNjRjgg
Translation:
ITALIAN:
"Vivere!" by Bixio
Oggi che magnifica giornata
Che giornata di felicità
La mia bella donna se n'è andata
M'ha lasciato al fine in libertà
Son padrone ancor della mia vita
E goder la voglio sempre più
Ella m'ha giurato nel partir
Che non sarebbe ritornata mai più
ViveVivere senza più gelosia
Senza rimpianti
Senza mai più conoscere cos'è l'amore
Cogliere il più bel fiore
Goder la vita e far tacere il cuore
Ridere sempre così giocondo
Ridere delle follie del mondo
Vivere finché c'è gioventù
Perché la vita è bella
La voglio vivere sempre più
re senza malinconia
Spesso la commedia dell'amore
La tua donna recitar ti fa
Tu diventi allora il primo attore
E ripeti quello che vorrà
Sul terzo atto scende già la tela
Finalmente torna la realtà
Questa è la commedia dell'amor
Che in una farsa trasformata sarà.
Vivere senza malinconia
Vivere senze più gelosia
Senza rimpianti
Senza mai più conoscere cos'è l'amore
Cogliere il più bel fiore
Goder la vita e far tacere il cuore
Ridere sempre così giocondo
Ridere delle follie del mondo
Vivere finché c'è gioventù
Perché la vita è bella
La voglio vivere sempre più
Vivere!
Vivere!
Vivere pur se al cuore
Ritorna un attimo di nostalgia
Io non ho più rancore
Ringrazio chi me l'ha portata via.
Ridere!
Ridere!
Vivere finché c'è gioventù
Perché la vita è bella
La voglio vivere sempre più
ENGLISH:
What a magnificent day
what a day to celebrate
my girl has left me
I'm free at last!
I've got my life back
and I intend to enjoy it.
when she left she said she wouldn't come back
Now I can live without misery
live without jealousy
with no regrets
with no concerns about love
I can enjoy the flowers, enjoy life
and still my feelings
I can laugh and be happy
I can laugh at a foolish world
I can live while I am still young
because life is beautiful
and I want to live more of it
Women want you to act in
in the comedy of love
they want you to play the
romantic lead
but when the curtain comes down in act 3
your faced with reality
Her romantic drama is a farce
Live! even if you feel a little nostalgic
I'm not bitter any more
I'm happy for the guy who took her away
To live while I'm young
Because life is beautiful
11.
Some tunes never wear out. It's an astonishing thing. One such is "Torna a
Surriento," ("Come Back to Sorrento"), by De Curtis."
Sung live here by Mario Lanza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-th1ia0he0
"See the sea, how beautiful it is. . ."
Translation:
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/torna-surriento-come-back-sorrento.html
12.
“Ideale,"
one of the ultimate expressions of yearning for a lost love. By Tosti. Sung
here by Jussi Bjorling.
"Come back, dear ideal, for an instant
to smile at me again. . ."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaqtZ6SAP5w
Translation:
http://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=5465
14.
Quick! Name this Neapolitan song! Win a trip to Italy! Answer now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkMVscR5YOo
Too late.
15.
You don't often hear this sung by a soprano. . .
"What a wonderful thing is a sunny day!" Sandra Radvanovksy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=773cLyjkA4g
Translation:
http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/qt/osolemiolyrics.htm
16.
And in the end. . .The Three Tenors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TUvcjSNXo
Translation:
http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/qt/osolemiolyrics.htm
What a wonderful thing a sunny day
The serene air after a thunderstorm
The fresh air, and a party is already going on…
What a wonderful thing a sunny day.
But another sun,
that’s brighter still
It’s my own sun
that’s in your face!
The sun, my own sun
It’s in your face!
It’s in your face!
When night comes and the sun has gone down,
I start feeling blue;
I’d stay below your window
When night comes and the sun has gone down.
But another sun,
that’s brighter still
It’s my own sun
that’s in your face!
The sun, my own sun
It’s in your face!
It’s in your face!
