Audio

Early morning music

By Kevin Steel ⋅ January 2, 2008 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

A little bel canto sing-along from Act 2 scene 3 of Bellini’s Norma, a concert performance of the duet "Mira, o Norma" (followed by "Cedi…deh cedi") with sopranos Edita Gruberová and Vesselina Kasarova accompanied by Friedrich Haider on piano.

In case you’ve forgotten the lyrics, here they are;

ADALGISA
Mira, o Norma, a’ tuoi ginocchi
Questi cari pargoletti.
Ah! pietà di lor ti tocchi
Se non hai di te pietà.

NORMA
Ah! perché la mia costanza
Vuoi scemar con molli affetti?
Più lusinghe, più speranza
Presso a morte un cor non ha.

(English Trans.)
ADALGISA
See, o Norma, at your knees,
These dear, dear children.
Let pity for them move you,
If you feel no pity for yourself…

NORMA
Ah, why do you try to weaken me
With such soft feelings?
Such illusions, such hopes
Are not for one about to die…

If you prefer orchestra and action, here’s the "Mira, o Norma" clip from a 1997 La Scala production with Tatiana Troyanos as Adalgisa and Montserrat Caballe as Norma.