"" , also known as "", is an

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 ...

from act 2 of the

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

L'arlesiana () is an opera in three acts by Francesco Cilea to an Italian libretto by Leopoldo Marenco. It was originally written in four acts, and was first performed on 27 November 1897 at the Teatro Lirico in Milan. It was revised as a three-act opera ...

'' (1897) by

Francesco Cilea Francesco Cilea (; 23 July 1866 – 20 November 1950) was an Italian composer. Today he is particularly known for his operas ''L'arlesiana'' and ''Adriana Lecouvreur''. Biography Born in Palmi near Reggio di Calabria, Cilea was the son of a pr ...

. It is sung by Federico (

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

), who is deeply in love with a girl from Arles, the ''Arlesiana'' of the title, but his family has arranged his marriage with Vivetta. Vivetta has always loved Federico since childhood and is disappointed to know of his love for l'Arlesiana. When he has been left alone, Federico reads the letters of l'Arlesiana (which prove she has another lover) and ponders them with his broken heart."È la solita storia" (''Lamento di Federico'')
Aria database site. Retrieved 25 July 2018

Libretto

Leopoldo Marenco Leopoldo Marenco (Nov. 8, 1831 – April 30, 1899) was an Italian dramatic poet, now known as a librettist. Life Born at Ceva, his father was Carlo Marenco. Like his father he held a government post under the Treasury Department, one which took ...

wrote the Italian

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

. È la solita storia del pastore... Il povero ragazzo voleva raccontarla E s'addormì. C'è nel sonno l'oblio. Come l'invidio! Anch'io vorrei dormir così, nel sonno almen l'oblio trovar! La pace sol cercando io vo'. Vorrei poter tutto scordar! Ma ogni sforzo è vano. Davanti ho sempre di lei il dolce sembiante. La pace tolta è solo a me. Perché degg'io tanto penar? Lei! Sempre lei mi parla al cor! Fatale vision, mi lascia! Mi fai tanto male! Ahimè! It's the old tale of the shepherd... The poor boy wanted to retell it And he fell asleep. There is oblivion in sleep. How I envy him! I too would like to sleep like that To find oblivion at least in slumber! I am searching only for peace. I would like to be able to forget everything! Yet every effort is in vain. Before me I always have her sweet face. Peace is ever taken from me. Why must I suffer so very much? She, as always speaks to my heart. Fatal vision, leave me! You hurt me so deeply! Alas!

References

External links

* ,

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

* ,

Jussi Björling Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling ( , ; 5 February 19119 September 1960) was a Swedish tenor. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th century, Björling appeared for many years at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and less frequentl ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:E La Solita Storia Del Pastore Arias by Francesco Cilea Opera excerpts 1897 compositions Tenor arias Adaptations of works by Alphonse Daudet