opera_cat: (passion)
»

Ave Signor (Mefistofele)

( Sep. 19th, 2010 09:09 am)
"Ave Signor," Mefistofele's first aria from Boito's opera Mefistofele. The Prologue of the opera takes place in heaven. In this aria, Mephistopheles (the Devil) shows up to mock God, the heavenly hosts, and humanity. Thanks to the people at [livejournal.com profile] linguaphiles for helping me figure out a tricky bit of grammar. As always, any remaining mistakes are entirely mine.

( that drunkard's illusion which he calls Reason )
  • Current Mood: amused
  • Current Music: Puccini: Turandot, "Gelo che ti da foco"
Tags:
opera_cat: (vengeance!)
»

Son lo Spirito

( Aug. 30th, 2010 05:06 pm)
"Son lo Spirito che nega," an aria from Arrigo Boito's opera Mefistofele. Seriously, you should hear Samuel Ramey sing this one.

Son lo Spirito I am the Spirit
Che nega sempre, tutto; that eternally denies everything:
L'astro, il fior. the star, the flower.
Il mio ghigno e la mia bega My mocking laughter and my quarrelling
Turbano gli ozi al Creator. disturb the Creator's rest.
Voglio il Nulla e del Creato I seek Annihilation and Creation's
La ruina universal, universal ruin,
È atmosfera mia vital, my breath of life
Ciò che chiamasi peccato, is that which is called sin,
Morte e Mal. Death and Evil.
Rido e avvento questa sillaba: "No!" I laugh and I hurl this word: "No!"
Struggo, tento, ruggo, sibilo: "No!" I devour, I tempt, I roar, I hiss: "No!"
Mordo, invischio, I gnaw, I stir things up,
Struggo, tento, ruggo, sibilo: I devour, I tempt, I roar, I hiss: "No!"
Fischio! Fischio! Fischio! Eh! I whistle mockingly! I whistle! I whistle! Hey!
Parte son d'una latebra I am part of a lurking-place
Del gran tutto: Oscurità. of the great all-in-all: Shadow.
Son figliuol della Tenebra I am a son of the Darkness
Che Tenebra tornerà. that to Darkness will return.
S'or la luce usurpa e afferra If for now the light usurps and seizes
Il mio scettro a ribellion, my scepter in rebellion,
Poco andrà la sua tenzon: soon will come its battle:
V'è sul Sole e sulla Terra, Distruzion!over the Sun and over the Earth, is Destruction!
Rido e avvento questa sillaba: "No!"I laugh and I hurl this word: "No!"
Struggo, tento, ruggo, sibilo: "No!" I devour, I tempt, I roar, I hiss: "No!"
Mordo, invischio, I gnaw, I stir things up,
Struggo, tento, ruggo, sibilo: I devour, I tempt, I roar, I hiss: "No!"
Fischio! Fischio! Fischio! Eh! I whistle in mockery! I whistle! I whistle! Hey!
  
  • Current Mood: diabolical
Tags:
.

Profile

opera_cat: (Default)
Opera Cat

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags