''Rondine al nido'' is a romance and one of the best known works of the Italian composer Vincenzo de Crescenzo, whose music was in the repertoire of

Beniamino Gigli Beniamino Gigli ( , ; 20 March 1890 – 30 November 1957) was an Italian opera singer (lyric tenor). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tenors of his generation. Early life Gigli was born in Recanati, in the Marche, the son of a shoem ...

, Tito Schipa,

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, Richard Tucker,

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 ...

, Luigi Infantino,

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, Francesco Albanese, among many others. Written by de Crescenzo in the early 20th century (1926), it deals with lost love. While written and performed as a Neapolitan song, but with lyrics in

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

, it is more like an

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

of the late Romantic period, demanding of the singer high intensity, high notes, and excellent breath control. It begins calmly and lightly, and then it becomes a passionate outburst. The second stanza repeats this scheme. The song was sung by tenor Agostino Castagnola as The Doctor (EMH) portrayed by

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in the 13th episode,

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, of the sixth season of the science fiction television series '' Star Trek: Voyager''. The episode was first aired on 26 January 2000 in the United States. The song is performed in

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at the Bellagio's fountain, which dances to Luciano Pavarotti's version of the song. Rondine al Nido is also the title of a short story by Claire Vaye Watkins, from her collection Battleborn.

Lyrics

Every performer interprets the song in his own way and there have been several changes from version to version. The following version is from the booklet of the 1990 album, ''Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert''. Italian I
''Sotto la gronda de la torre antica
Una rondine amica,
Allo sbocciare del mandorlo è tornata.
Ritorna tutti gli anni,
Sempre alla stessa data,
Monti e mare essa varca
   per tornar.
Solo amore
Quando fugge e va lontano
Speri invano
E non torni più,
Speri invano
E non torni più. '' II
''Nella penombra dolce della sera
Passa la primavera.
Cinguettano le rondini nel volo,
Ebbre di luce e d'aria.
Ed io son triste e solo;
Monti e mare tu non varchi
   per tornar.
Mia piccina,
Fosti tutta la mia vita;
Sei fuggita
E non torni più.
Sei fuggita
E non torni più. '' Translation in English I
''Under the eaves of the old tower,
as the almond tree blossoms,
a friendly swallow has returned.
Every year she returns,
always in the same day.
She crosses mountains and sea
   to get back here.
Only love flees
and does not return.
It makes you hope in vain,
but it does not return.
It makes you hope in vain,
but it does not return. '' II
''In the soft twilight of evening
springtime is passing.
The swallows chatter in their flight —
they are drunk with light and air.
But I am sad and lonely.
You do not cross mountains and sea
   to come back to me.
My little one,
You were my whole life,
but you ran away,
never to return.
You ran away,
never to return!''

Selected recordings

The following is a selection of recordings that includes "Rondine al nido" sung by some of its most famous interpreters. Recordings are listed in chronological order by year.

References

{{Reflist 1920s songs Italian songs