I know that you all hate me by Salvatore Cappellino

Me performing the tenor aria, "I know that you all hate me" from the American Opera, "The Saint of Bleecker Street", by Gian Carlo Menotti.

Find me on Facebook: "Salvatore Cappellino Voce"

Here are the words since it seems impossible to gather any information regarding this aria online:

I know that you all hate me
For you I always was the rebel and the cursed one
Since I was a child, you've always hated me
Because I never asked for love, only understanding
What right have you to judge me?
Look at yourselves

Although you made this land your home, you live like strangers
You are ashamed to say, "I am Italian"
And for such little gain you sold your noble, ancient dreams
I cannot smile at your contentment
Nor share your little island of defeat
I do want to belong, belong to this new world
I don't want to be told, "You foreigner, go back where you have come from!"
"You foreigner, go back to your old home!"

My home, where is my home?
They tell me that the Italian shore blooms like a garden
They tell me that nowhere the sea's so blue
That towns are built on stones older than sorrow
Where men still live and die, yes very poor, but proud

Perhaps if I could see just once, that sad sweet country
I would be proud to say, "I am Italian"
And would forget your eyes
Take your wine!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sal
• Salvatore
• Cappellino
• Giancarlo
• Gian Carlo
• Menotti
• The Saint
• Bleecker Street
• American
• Opera

[stormstryk]

Menotti draws from a variety of influences and musical theatre is strongly among them. As an Italian character, a fully flipped (if not rolled!) [r] on "your" before "eyes" will help you navigate the switch. Also, disregard any demand that the word "eyes" is the [a:i] diphthong. You'll probably have more luck going for a more neutral schwa as the onset vowel followed by an open [I] (ih) instead. Good luck!!

[stormstryk]

Quite nice for the most part. Menotti is rarely easy to sing, and you've done an admirable job learning the piece and interpreting the basic ideas. This aria in particular is quite odd in that it lies firmly in lyric territory until the last statement. (with the high c) I think Menotti really intends the last phrase to be seething and venomous. As such, you may want to consider a less "classical" technique for it.