Written in B minor, it is one of the most famous opera arias. The vocal range extends from F♯3 toA4. The aria is considered part of the spinto tenor repertoire.[1]
The aria is introduced by a somber clarinet solo. The incipit of the melody (heard in outline earlier in the act, as the sky lightens and the gaoler prepares for the execution) is repeated on the lines "O dolci baci, o languide carezze" ("Oh, sweet kisses and languorous caresses"), and also restated in forte in the closing bars of the opera, as Tosca jumps from the ramparts.
E lucevan le stelle ... ed olezzava la terra stridea l'uscio dell'orto ... e un passo sfiorava la rena ... Entrava ella fragrante, mi cadea fra le braccia.
O! dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli! Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore. L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato! E muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita, tanto la vita!
And the stars were shining, And the earth was scented. The gate of the garden creaked And a footstep grazed the sand... Fragrant, she entered And fell into my arms.
Oh, sweet kisses and languorous caresses, While trembling I stripped the beautiful form of its veils! Forever, my dream of love has vanished. That moment has fled, and I die in desperation. And I die in desperation! And I never before loved life so much, Loved life so much!
When the stars were brightly shining ... And faint perfumes the air pervaded, Creaked the gate of the garden ... And footstep its precincts invaded ... 'Twas hers, the fragrant creature. In her soft arms she clasped me...
With sweetest kisses, tenderest caresses, A thing of beauty, of matchless symmetry in form and feature! My dream of love is now dispelled forever. I lived uncaring and now I die despairing! Alas I die despairing! And never was life so dear to me, no never, So dear, no never!
Plagiarism suit
In 1920, the stage performer Al Jolson, together with Buddy DeSylva and Vincent Rose, wrote a popular song, "Avalon", about the town of the same name on Santa Catalina island. The following year, G. Ricordi, the publisher of Puccini's operas, sued all parties associated with the song, arguing that the melody was lifted from "E lucevan le stelle". Puccini and his publisher prevailed in the case and were awarded $25,000 in damages and all future royalties for the song.[3]
References
^Clark, Mark Ross (April 25, 2007). Guide to the Aria Repertoire. Bloomington, Illinois: Indiana University Press. p. 390.
^Tyle, Chris. "Avalon (1920)". jazzstandards.com. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
Further reading
Detailed musical analysis of the aria can be found in Mosco Carner, Giacomo Puccini, Tosca, Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp. 101–104 (ISBN0-521-29661-7) and in Julian BuddenPuccini: His Life and Works, Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 218–219 (ISBN0-19-517974-9).
The text for the original version of the aria which Puccini later shortened for subsequent editions of the libretto can be found in Susan VanDiver Nicassio, Tosca's Rome: The Play and the Opera in Historical Perspective, University of Chicago Press, 2002, p. 307. (ISBN0-226-57971-9)
An analysis of the theme of female unveiling in this aria and other operas of the time can be found in Jeremy Tambling, Opera and the Culture of Fascism, Oxford University Press, 1996. p. 122. (ISBN0-19-816566-8)
lucevan, stelle, stars, were, shining, romantic, aria, from, third, giacomo, puccini, opera, tosca, from, 1900, composed, italian, libretto, luigi, illica, giuseppe, giacosa, sung, mario, cavaradossi, tenor, painter, love, with, singer, tosca, while, waits, ex. E lucevan le stelle And the stars were shining is a romantic aria from the third act of Giacomo Puccini s opera Tosca from 1900 composed to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa It is sung in act 3 by Mario Cavaradossi tenor a painter in love with the singer Tosca while he waits for his execution on the roof of Castel Sant Angelo Castel Sant Angelo the scene of the aria Written in B minor it is one of the most famous opera arias The vocal range extends from F 3 to A4 The aria is considered part of the spinto tenor repertoire 1 The aria is introduced by a somber clarinet solo The incipit of the melody heard in outline earlier in the act as the sky lightens and the gaoler prepares for the execution is repeated on the lines O dolci baci o languide carezze Oh sweet kisses and languorous caresses and also restated in forte in the closing bars of the opera as Tosca jumps from the ramparts E lucevan le stelle source source Sung by Leo Slezak 1913 recorded on Edison cylinder Problems playing this file See media help Contents 1 Libretto 2 Plagiarism suit 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLibretto EditItalian Literal translation Free translation 2 E lucevan le stelle ed olezzava la terra stridea l uscio dell orto e un passo sfiorava la rena Entrava ella fragrante mi cadea fra le braccia O dolci baci o languide carezze mentr io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli Svani per sempre il sogno mio d amore L ora e fuggita e muoio disperato E muoio disperato E non ho amato mai tanto la vita tanto la vita And the stars were shining And the earth was scented The gate of the garden creaked And a footstep grazed the sand Fragrant she entered And fell into my arms Oh sweet kisses and languorous caresses While trembling I stripped the beautiful form of its veils Forever my dream of love has vanished That moment has fled and I die in desperation And I die in desperation And I never before loved life so much Loved life so much When the stars were brightly shining And faint perfumes the air pervaded Creaked the gate of the garden And footstep its precincts invaded Twas hers the fragrant creature In her soft arms she clasped me With sweetest kisses tenderest caresses A thing of beauty of matchless symmetry in form and feature My dream of love is now dispelled forever I lived uncaring and now I die despairing Alas I die despairing And never was life so dear to me no never So dear no never Plagiarism suit EditIn 1920 the stage performer Al Jolson together with Buddy DeSylva and Vincent Rose wrote a popular song Avalon about the town of the same name on Santa Catalina island The following year G Ricordi the publisher of Puccini s operas sued all parties associated with the song arguing that the melody was lifted from E lucevan le stelle Puccini and his publisher prevailed in the case and were awarded 25 000 in damages and all future royalties for the song 3 References Edit Clark Mark Ross April 25 2007 Guide to the Aria Repertoire Bloomington Illinois Indiana University Press p 390 Piano vocal score of E lucevan le stelle with the original text and an English translation by W Beattie Kingston William and Gayle Cook Music Library Jacobs School of Music Indiana University Bloomington Tyle Chris Avalon 1920 jazzstandards com Retrieved 5 August 2021 Further reading EditDetailed musical analysis of the aria can be found in Mosco Carner Giacomo Puccini Tosca Cambridge University Press 1985 pp 101 104 ISBN 0 521 29661 7 and in Julian Budden Puccini His Life and Works Oxford University Press 2002 pp 218 219 ISBN 0 19 517974 9 The text for the original version of the aria which Puccini later shortened for subsequent editions of the libretto can be found in Susan VanDiver Nicassio Tosca s Rome The Play and the Opera in Historical Perspective University of Chicago Press 2002 p 307 ISBN 0 226 57971 9 An analysis of the theme of female unveiling in this aria and other operas of the time can be found in Jeremy Tambling Opera and the Culture of Fascism Oxford University Press 1996 p 122 ISBN 0 19 816566 8 External links Edit E lucevan le stelle transposed for bass baritone Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Details Aria Database Audio on YouTube Alfredo Kraus Portal Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title E lucevan le stelle amp oldid 1046901147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
