Enrico Caruso: E Lucevan le stelle (enhanced)

IMO the best restoration of this Caruso aria (originally recorded on the 6th of November 1909). I have received it from http://www.youtube.com/user/Pawelp - thank you!

Pawel wrote: "...it also shows the brightness in his top unlike most other recordings." - I can only agree with that.

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E lucevan le stelle is the romanza of Mario Cavaradossi in the 3rd act of Tosca, the opera composed by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is sung by Tosca's lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi (tenor), while waiting for his coming execution.

Text Italian:

E lucevan le stelle,
ed olezzava la terra
stridea l'uscio dell'orto
e un passo sfiorava la rena.
Entrava ella fragrante,
mi cadea fra la braccia.

O dolci baci, o languide carezze,
mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore.
L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!
e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
tanto la vita!

English translation:

And the stars were shining,
and the earth smelled sweet,
the garden gate scraped,
and a step brushed the sand.
She came in, fragrant,
and fell into my arms.

Oh! sweet kisses, oh! languid caresses,
while I, trembling, released her lovely features from their veils!
My dream of love has vanished forever.
The moment is gone, and I die in despair!
And I never have loved life so much!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• puccini
• enrico
• caruso
• tosca
• italian
• opera

[Kadda1234]

Caruso records often run around 75 or lower, but Idk what this one needs. It's a bit too fast I think.

[tomfroekjaer]

@Kadda1234 Yes, it is too fast.

[KaleidoscopeAct]

Is this the right speed?

[tomfroekjaer]

@KaleidoscopeAct Nope - I'm sure it isn't. But it sounds great ....

[tomfroekjaer]

@KaleidoscopeAct Yes, it was speeded up somewhat, I think. But then again we have only poor recordings - in various qualities - to judge by. How did he really sound like live?

The majority of the opera public at the time (MET and abroad) didn't buy tickets for a specific opera, but for a performance where Caruso was the tenor.

[rosaponselleart]

Caruso is forever and ever the best!

R.

[tomfroekjaer]

@rosaponselleart Thanks R. - or M. :-)

... Beautiful soul and voice.

[tenorenchanted]

Best Version of E Lucevan Le Stelle! Thank You for posting this!

[Dionaysia]

Thank you so much for posting!

One hundred years after its recording, I found the Caruso rendition valuable. Besides its exellence, I was impressed with the way he was able to allow his voice to break, twice, near the end, with emotion, and still return to the true line of the music.

Also, your translation from Italian to English seems better, to me, than the libretto I have.

Many many thanks!

[Patronistaindustrial]

Bajo la brillante luz de las estrellas tus pieceitos descalzos apenas rosaban la arena , ay Dios mío y Yo sentía muchas ganas de darles un beso.

[TheJrollino]

Imagine what this would sound like with modern sound systems. No harm in dreaming.

[slamtodeath]

Wonderful. It gave me goose bumps.

[canelongno1]

i like how he sung it it was nice but i thought it was a bit on the fast side i like it better when its sung slower. it feels more like the man is thinking and reflecting rather then just, for lack of a better word, spurting out the words. but i still think its lovely he really was a great singer

[AdriaFloriDeSoc]

@mauriciomille Fritz Wunderlich, better.