Expert: Cindy Sadler - 12/11/2005

Question
Hello,

I was wondering if you might be able to help me find the lyrics to this opera "Bella figlia dell'amore" from Maria Callas and others?

In Italian or english would be fine.

Thank you so much for your help!
Joe

Answer
Hi Joe,

The piece you're referring to is part of the quartet from Rigoletto, by Verdi. The words are as follows.


DUCA:

Un dì, si ben rammentomi,

o bella, t'incontrai...

mi piacque di te chiedere,

e intesi che qui stai.

Or sappi, che d'allora

sol te quest'alma adora.



GILDA:

Iniquo!...



MADDALENA:

Ah, ah!... e vent'altre appresso

le scorda forse a desso?

Ha un'aria il signorino da vero libertino...



DUCA:

Sì... un mostro son...

(per abbracciarla)



GILDA:

Ah padre mio!...



MADDALENA:

Lasciatemi, stordito.



DUCA:

Ih, che fracasso!



MADDALENA:

Stia saggio.



DUCA:

E tu sii docile,

non farmi tanto chiasso.

Ogni saggezza chiudesi

nel gaudio e nell'amore...

(le prende la mano)

La bella mano candida!...



MADDALENA:

Scherzate voi, signore.



DUCA:

No, no.



MADDALENA:

Son brutta.



DUCA:

Abbracciami.



GILDA:

Iniquo!



MADDALENA:

Ebro!...



DUCA:

(ridendo)

D'amor ardente.



MADDALENA:

Signor l'indifferente,

vi piace canzonar?



DUCA:

No, no, ti vo'sposar.



MADDALENA:

Ne voglio la parola...



DUCA:

Amabile figliuola!



RIGOLETTO:

(a Gilda che avrà  tutto osservato ed inteso)

E non ti basta ancor?



GILDA:

Iniquo traditor!



DUCA:

Bella figlia dell'amore,

schiavo son de'vezzi tuoi;

con un detto sol tu puoi

le mie pene consolar.

Vieni e senti del mio core

il frequente palpitar.

Con un detto sol tu puoi

le mie pene consolar.



MADDALENA:

Ah! ah! rido ben di core,

chè tai baje costan poco,

quanto valga il vostro gioco,

mel credete so apprezzar.

Sono avvezza, bel signore

Ad un simile scherzar.



GILDA:

Ah così parlar d'amore

a me pur l'infame ho udito!

Infelice cor tradito,

per angoscia non scoppiar,

Perché o credulo mio core,

un tal uomo dovevi amar!



RIGOLETTO:

(a Gilda)

Taci, il piangere non vale;

Ch'ei mentiva or sei sicura...

Taci, e mia sarà  la cura

la vendetta d'affrettar.

Pronta fia sarà  fatale,

io saprollo fulminar.

And here is the text in English:





No. 12 - Quartet

DUKE
One day, if I remember rightly,
my pretty one, I met you...
I asked someone about you
and was told that you live here.
Let me say that ever since,
my heart has been yours alone.

GILDA
(Deceiver!)

MADDALENA
Ah! Ah! And of twenty others
that maybe you're forgetting?
I think my fine young man
is a bit of a libertine.

DUKE
Yes, I'm a monster.

goes to embrace her

GILDA
Ah, father!

MADDALENA
Leave me alone,
you scatterbrain!

DUKE
Ho, what a fuss!

MADDALENA
Behave yourself!

DUKE
Be nice to me,
don't play hard to get.
Good behaviour doesn't exclude
jollity and love.
caressing ber hand
Pretty white hand!

MADDALENA
You are joking, sir.

DUKE
No, no.

MADDALENA
I'm ugly.

DUKE
Kiss me.

GILDA
(Deceiver!)

MADDALENA
You're drunk!

DUKE
With love.

MADDALENA
If you're trifling with me, sir,
I'm indifferent.

DUKE
No, no. I want to marry you...

MADDALENA
I want your word of honour.

DUKE
ironic
Sweet little maid!

RIGOLETTO
to Gilda, who has seen and heard all
Haven't you seen enough?

GILDA
The wicked deceiver!

DUKE
Fairest daughter of love,
I am a slave to your charms;
with but a single word you could
relieve my every pain.
Come, touch my breast and feel
how my heart is racing.

MADDALENA
Ah! Ah! That really makes me laugh;
talk like that is cheap enough.
Believe me, I know exactly
what such play‑acting is worth!
I, my fine sir, am quite accustomed
to foolish jokes like this.

GILDA
Ah, these are the loving words
the scoundrel spoke once to me!
O wretched heart betrayed
do not break for sorrow.

RIGOLETTO
to Gilda
Hush weeping can do no good...
You are now convinced he was lying.
Hush, and leave it up to me
to hasten our revenge.
It will be quick, it will be deadly,
I know how to deal with him.

Listen to me, go home.
Take some money and a horse,
Put on the men's clothes I provided,
then leave at once for Verona.
I shall meet you there tomorrow.

GILDA
Come with me now.

RIGOLETTO
It's impossible.

GILDA
I'm afraid.

RIGOLETTO
Go!
+++

Hope this helps!

Cindy
www.cindy-sadler.com
www.thebusinessofsinging.com