"Celeste Aida" ("Heavenly Aida") is a

romanza ''Romanza'' is the first compilation album by Italian tenor singer Andrea Bocelli, released internationally in 1997. Although a compilation, ''Romanza'' is considered Bocelli's breakthrough album and is his most commercially successful, topping ...

from the first act of the opera ''

Aida ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 De ...

'' by

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for List of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma ...

. It is preceded by the

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name recitativo () is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat lines ...

"Se quel guerrier io fossi!". The

aria In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air (music), air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrument (music), instrumental or orchestral accompan ...

is sung by Radamès, a young Egyptian warrior who wishes to be chosen as a commander of the Egyptian army. He dreams of gaining victory on the battlefield and also of the Ethiopian slave girl, Aida, with whom he is secretly in love."Celeste Aïda"
Aria database site. Retrieved 14 August 2018 This scene takes place in the hall of the king's palace.

Libretto

Se quel guerrier io fossi! Se il mio sogno si avverasse! Un esercito di prodi da me guidato E la vittoria e il plauso di Menfi tutta! E a te, mia dolce Aida, Tornar di lauri cinto Dirti: per te ho pugnato, Per te ho vinto! Celeste Aida, forma divina, Mistico serto di luce e fior, Del mio pensiero tu sei regina, Tu di mia vita sei lo splendor. Il tuo bel cielo vorrei ridarti, Le dolci brezze del patrio suol Un regal serto sul crin posarti, Ergerti un trono vicino al sol. If only I were that warrior! If only my dream might come true! An army of brave men with me as their leader And victory and the applause of all Memphis! And to you, my sweet Aida, To return crowned with laurels, To tell you: for you I have fought, For you I have won! Heavenly Aida, divine form, Mystical garland of light and flowers, You are queen of my thoughts, You are the splendour of my life. I want to give you back your beautiful sky, The sweet breezes of your native land, To place a royal garland on your hair, To raise you a throne next to the sun.

References

External links

Piano-vocal score with Italian and English text,

William and Gayle Cook Music Library The William and Gayle Cook Music Library, recognized as one of the largest academic music libraries in the world, serves the Jacobs School of Music and the Bloomington Campus of Indiana University. It occupies a four-floor, 55,000 square-foot faci ...

Indiana University School of Music The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music. It has more than 1,500 students, approximately half of whom ar ...

Franco Corelli Franco Corelli (8 April 1921 – 29 October 2003) was an Italian tenor who had a major international opera career between 1951 and 1976. Associated in particular with the spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was ce ...

sings Celeste Aida. Playback, audio from the 60s. {{Authority control Arias by Giuseppe Verdi Opera excerpts Romance (music) 1871 compositions Compositions in B-flat major