Bruce Ford & David Harper " I' vidi in terra angelici costumi " from Tre Sonetti di Petrarca

Bruce Ford & David Harper "I' vidi in terra angelici costumi" from Tre Sonetti di Petrarca by Franz Liszt.

This is one of the most amazing recordings of this wonderful music by Franz Liszt, Ford and Harper are the perfect team delivering a sublime and extremely deep interpretation, giving to each musical phrase its own color and character.

Tenor Bruce Ford, one of the finest singers of his generation sings them all (sonnets) with great warmth and depth of feeling. The first of the three, "Pace non trovo", is the most emotionally complex and (properly) has the most complex piano accompaniment--disturbed and turbulent, then lyrically carrying the melody, then a mere whisper--and Ford and pianist David Harper offer us a remarkable mini-drama. Ford is fearless despite Liszt's high tessitura and frequent changes of dynamics. But for me, personally, love this sonnet, especially the very last phrase "tanta dolcezza" where Ford delivers it, with a deep feeling, the right color, musical understanding and legatissimo as "water coming out of his mouth".

David Harper accompanies with precision and grace, always present but never intrusive, so elegant and very musical.

Ford's Website http://www.bruce-ford.com/

If you want to buy this CD follow the link http://www.amazon.com/primo-dolce-affanno-First-Sweet/dp/B00067ZP7A

Or Buy the MP3s here: http://www.amazon.com/Salotto-Vol-Primo-Dolce-Affanno/dp/B002XXG2G8/ref=tmm_m...

Listen on HD for better audio quality.

Lyrics:

Original:

I' vidi in terra angelici costumi,
E celesti bellezze al mondo sole;
Tal che di rimembrar mi giova, e dole:
Che quant'io miro, par sogni, ombre, e fumi.

E vidi lagrimar que' duo bei lumi,
Ch'han fatto mille volte invidia al sole;
Ed udì' sospirando dir parole
Che farian gir i monti, e stare i fiumi.

Amor! senno! valor, pietate, e doglia
Facean piangendo un più dolce concento
D'ogni altro, che nel mondo udir si soglia.

Ed era 'l cielo all'armonia s'intento
Che non si vedea in ramo mover foglia.
Tanta dolcezza avea pien l'aer e 'l vento.

English Translation:

I beheld on earth angelic grace,
and heavenly beauty unmatched in this world,
such as to rejoice and pain my memory,
which is so clouded with dreams, shadows, mists.

And I beheld tears spring from those two bright eyes,
which many a time have put the sun to shame,
and heard words unered with such sighs
as to move the mountains and stay the rivers.

Love, wisdom, excellence, pity and grief
made in that plaint a sweeter concert
than any other to be heard on earth.

And heaven on that harmony was so intent
that not a leaf upon the bough was seen to stir,
such sweetness had filled the air and winds.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• tenor
• bruce
• ford
• david
• harper
• Petrarch
• Sonnets
• petrarca
• lizst
• three
• sonnets
• petrarch
• Franz
• Liszt
• opera
• rara
• il
• primo
• dolce
• affanno
• sonetos
• bel
• canto

[ymonta]

This is a magic! I couldn't get the beauty of this song from other big name singers. I think they are on the ego trip. Sound like a completely different song.

Thank you very much for your magical performance.

[goknur1977]

David Harper, one of the best vocal coaches in the world. Combine that with wonderfully intuitive accompanying skills. Making music with this guy was some of the most special moments of my life....

[semiramide1945]

Thank you for this post. This is a beautiful song. I used to sing it a lot during my modest operatic career. Liszt could write some beautiful music for the voice. I'm not sure he could have written an opera though. Bruce Ford sings wonderfully here. Ancora, grazie assai amico. Ernesto