Mario Lanza recorded this beautiful Neapolitan song at his first commercial session for RCA on May 5, 1949. Written by composer Emanuele Nutile (1862-1932) in 1900, with lyrics by his fellow Neapolitan Ferdinando Russo, the song was a staple of Lanza's recital repertoire, and also featured in two of the tenor's films. (In fact, it was the first number that Lanza sang in his debut picture, That Midnight Kiss.) This is one of seven existing renditions of the song by Lanza, and was conducted by Constantine Callinicos. Click here for the sheet music.
Note: The audio reproduction featured above comes from a 1960 LP pressing and is (understandably) slightly scratchy, but the sound quality here---in terms of capturing Lanza's warmth of timbre, power and dynamic range---is superior to that of any CD reissue.
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_Mamma Mia, Che Vò Sapé?
(What Do You Want to Know, Mama?) Quanno 'a notte se ne scenne
When night falls p'abbruciá chist'uocchie stanche,
(and comes) to burn these weary eyes of mine quann'io veglio e tu mme manche,
When I stay up and miss you sento 'a smánia 'e te vasá
I feel the need to kiss you.
E te chiammo, e schiara juorno,
And I call for you, and (then) day becomes bright ma è pe' ll'ate stu chiarore.
But this brightness is for others (not for me) Tengo 'a notte dint''o core
I hold the night inside my heart e nun pòzzo arrepusá.
And I can't repose
Ah, nun mme fá murí!
Ah, don't make me die! Tu, che ne vuó' da me?
You, what do you want from me? Mamma mia mme vène a dí pecché
Mama asks me why chesta smánia nun mme vò' lassá.
this longing can't leave me (in peace)
Ah, nun mme fá murí!
Ah, Don't make me die! Tu che ne vuó' da me?
What do you want from me? Mamma mia che vò sapé?
What do you want to know, Mama? Mamma mia ch'ha da appurá?
What do you want to clarify, Mama? Nun mme fido d''a vasá.
I don't have the heart to kiss her
Ah! Ah! Mamma mia ch'ha da appurá? What do you want to clarify, Mama? Ah! Ah! Mamma mia ch'ha da appurá? What do you want to clarify, Mama? _
#12 'A Vucchella (RCA, 1951)
Another staple of Mario Lanza's recital repertoire, this 1907 Neapolitan song by composer Paolo Tosti (1846-1916) and poet Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863-1938) was recorded on February 23, 1951 at the same session that produced the tenor's second million-selling single, "The Loveliest Night of the Year." The conductor was Constantine Callinicos. This version is currently available on the 2009 Sony CD Serenade: A Mario Lanza Songbook.
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'A Vucchella (Little Mouth) Sì, comm'a nu sciorillo Yes, like a little flower Tu tiene na vucchella You have a little mouth Nu poco pucurillo appassuliatella. A tiny little bit withered. Meh, dammillo, dammillo, But give it to me, give it to me, É comm'a na rusella. It's like a little rose. Dammillo nu vasillo, Give me a little kiss, Dammillo, Cannetella! Give it to me, Cannetella!
Dammillo e pigliatillo. Give me one and take one too. Nu vaso piccerillo A kiss as little Nu vaso piccerillo A kiss as little comm'a chesta vucchella. as this mouth (of yours). Che pare na rusella Which looks like a little rose Nu poco pucurillo appassuliatella... A tiny little bit withered... Sì, tu tiene 'a vucchella Yes, you have a little mouth Nu poco pucurillo appassuliatella... A tiny little bit withered...
#13 Tu Ca Nun Chiagne! (RCA, 1958)
This passionate 1915 Neapolitan song by composer Ernesto de Curtis (1875-1937) and lyricist Libero Bovio (1883-1942) was recorded twice by Mario Lanza: first, in 1952, for his weekly radio show, and again in December 1958 (in Rome) for the Neapolitan album Mario! (best heard on this 2006 CD release). The recording featured here is Lanza's 1958 version, and was conducted by Franco Ferrara of Rome's Academy of Santa Cecilia.Carlo Savina arranged the song.
Note: Lanza recorded more De Curtis songs than those of any other Neapolitan composer. Several of these are closely associated with the tenor, and include "Voce 'e Notte," "Canta Pe' Me!," "Torna a Surriento," and "Senza Nisciuno."
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Tu Ca Nun Chiagne! (You Who Do Not Cry!) Comm'è bella 'a muntagna stanotte... How beautiful the mountain is tonight... bella accussí, nun ll'aggio vista maje! lovelier than I have ever seen it before! N'ánema pare, rassignata e stanca, It looks like a resigned and tired soul, sott''a cuperta 'e chesta luna janca... under the cover of this white moon...
Tu ca nun chiagne e chiágnere mme faje, You who do not cry and yet make me cry, tu, stanotte, addó staje? Where are you tonight? Voglio a te! I want you! Voglio a te! I want you! Chist'uocchie te vonno These eyes want to see you n'ata vota, vedé! one more time!
Comm'è calma 'a muntagna stanotte... How calm the mountain is tonight... cchiù calma 'e mo, nun ll'aggio vista maje! calmer than I have ever seen it before! E tutto dorme, tutto dorme o more, And everything sleeps, everything sleeps or dies, e i' sulo veglio, pecché veglia Ammore... and only I am awake, because Love is awake...
Tu ca nun chiagne e chiágnere mme faje, You who do not cry and yet make me cry, tu, stanotte, addó staje? Where are you tonight? Voglio a te! I want you! Voglio a te! I want you! Chist'uocchie te vonno These eyes want to see you n'ata vota, vedé! one more time!