The legendary Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti sings “Mattinata” (English: Morning) by Ruggero Leoncavallo (from the Central Park Concert – in June 1993, more than 500,000 listeners gathered for his free performance on the Great Lawn of New York’s Central Park, while millions more around the world watched on television.). Composed in 1904, It was the first song ever written expressly for the Gramophone Company (the present-day HMV). The song was dedicated to the great Italian tenor of the 20th century, 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 favorite.
The original version of Mattinata, sung by Enrico Caruso accompanied by Ruggero Leoncavallo, the composer himself on the piano:
And the remastered version: the vocals were recorded on April 8, 1904, in Milan and the instrumentals were recorded in April 2002 in Vienna (Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra).
Lyrics
Mattinata
L’aurora di bianco vestita
Già l’uscio dischiude al gran sol;
Di già con le rosee sue dita
Carezza de’ fiori lo stuol!
Commosso da un fremito arcano
Intorno il creato già par;
E tu non ti desti, ed invano
Mi sto qui dolente a cantar.
Metti anche tu la veste bianca
E schiudi l’uscio al tuo cantor!
Ove non sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l’amor.
Ove non sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l’amor.
Morning
The dawn, wearing a white dress,
it’s already allowing the sun to cross the threshold;
It’s already caressing with her pink fingers
the crowd of flowers!
The Creation all around seems moved by
an arcane shiver;
And you are not getting up, and
I’m singing painfully in vain.
Put your white gown on
and let your cantor cross the threshold!
Light lacks where you are missing,
Love is born where you are.
Light lacks where you are missing,
Love is born where you are.
Sources
- Mattinata (Leoncavallo) on Wikipedia
- Marcello: Oboe Concerto [Cameristi della Scala] - March 26, 2023
- Maxim Vengerov and Daughter perform “Adagio” from Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto - March 24, 2023
- Dvořák: Cello Concerto [Ella van Poucke] - March 22, 2023
