In the Swiss countryside, Amina is engaged to Elvino. A mysterious stranger arrives in the town, and turns out to be the long-lost Rodolfo, son of the recently-deceased local count.
Staying at the local in, run by Lisa, Count Rodolfo meets Amina (the sleepwalker) when she wanders, sleeping, into his room and settles down to sleep. Rodolfo hears others approaching, and wanting to avoid having to explain Amina in his room, climbs out the window. Still, Elvino hears of Amina in Rodolfo’s, room and jealously breaks off their engagement, taking her engagement ring from her.
Bereft, and exhausted, Amina falls asleep and wanders the countryside. Dreaming, she sings:
|
Ah,non credea mirart
si presto estinto, o fiore
passasti al par d'amore,
che un giorno sol(o) duro
Potria novel vigore
il pianto mio recarti
ma ravvivar l'amore
il pianto mio, ah no, non puo.
|
Oh, I didn't believe to see you
so quickly extinct, o flowers;
you have passed away like love
that one day only lasted.
Perhaps new life
my tears will bring to you
but to revive love
my tears, o no, cannot.
|
Elvino decides to marry Lisa instead - they’d previously been engaged. Strangely, news that Lisa had been in Rodolfo’s room (she was the innkeeper, after all!) causes Elvino to decide he’d like to marry Amina after all. He awakens her by putting the ring back on her finger. (This is Opera, otherwise the present author would suggest Amina could be better off with a one-way ticket to someplace else...)
|
Ah, non giunge uman pensiero
al contento ond'io son piena:
a miei sensi io credo appena;
tu m'affida o mio tesor
Ah, mi abbraccia, e sempre insieme,
sempre uniti in una speme,
della terra, in cui viviamo
ci formiamo un ciel d'amor
|
O, inconceivable human thought
a wave of contentment I am full:
In my feelings I can hardly believe
you assure me, o my treasure(darling).
O, embrace me, and always together,
always united in a single hope,
of the world, we live in
we will make a heaven of love.
(Translation: Elise Curran)
|
| File | Action |
|---|
| Bellini - Amina’s Aria from La Sonnambula.pdf | Download |
Leave a Reply