Mario Lanza recorded this 1935 Italian song on 3 April 1952 for his weekly radio show, with Constantine Callinicos conducting. "Non Ti Scordar di Me" (De Curtis-Furnò) was originally written for tenor Beniamino Gigli, who sang it in his 1935 film of the same name.
This recording was first released by BMG in 1993, and is currently available on the 2009 Sony CD Serenade: A Mario Lanza Songbook.
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#7 Vaghissima Sembianza (RCA, 1959)
Mario Lanza recorded Stefano Donaudy's 1892 song in June 1959 (exact date unknown), barely four months before his death. The conductor and arranger was Paul Baron. "Vaghissima Sembianza" was first released on CD in 1989 on BMG's The Great Caruso/Caruso Favorites. The sheet music can be viewed here.
Sidenote: The Sicilian-born Donaudy (1879-1925) was reportedly just thirteen when he composed this song, for which his even younger brother, Alberto (1880-1941), wrote the (Italian) lyrics.
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Non Ti Scordar di Me!
Partirono le rondini dal mio paese freddo e senza sole, The swallows have left my cold and sunless land, cercando primavere di viole, searching for spring and violets, nidi d'amore e di felicita'. nests of love and happiness. La mia piccola rondine parti' My little swallow has left, senza lasciarmi un bacio, without leaving me a kiss, senza un addio parti'. without a goodbye, she left.
Non ti scordar di me! Don’t forget me! La vita mia legata e' a te! My life is bound to you! Io t'amo sempre piu', I will always love you, nel sogno mio rimani tu. you remain in my dreams. Non ti scordar di me: Don’t forget me: la vita mia legata e' a te. My life is bound to you. C'e' sempre un nido There's always a nest nel mio cor per te. in my heart for you. Non ti scordar di me! Don't forget me!
Vaghissima Sembianza
Vaghissima sembianza… Very vague semblance D'antica donna amata, of my formerly loved woman, Chi, dunque, v'ha ritratta who, then, has portrayed you Con tanta simiglianza with such a likeness Ch'io guardo, e parlo, that I gaze, and speak, e credo d'avervi and believe to have you A me davanti come ai bei dì d'amor? before me as in the beautiful days of love?
La cara rimembranza The cherished memory Che in cor mi s'è Which in my heart has been destata sì ardente awakened so ardently V'ha già fatta rinascer la speranza, has already revived hope there, Che un bacio, un voto, un grido d'amore so that a kiss, a vow, a cry of love Più non chiedo che a lei I no longer ask except of her che muta è ognor. who is forever silent.