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#30 Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar (Monologue from Verdi's "Otello") (1955)

Mario Lanza recorded the aria "Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar" from Act III of Verdi's Otello on July 19, 1955, at Warner Brothers' Burbank Studio in Los Angeles. The aria, also known as the Otello Monologue, was recorded for the the tenor's fifth film, Serenade (1956). The conductor was Ray Heindorf.  


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Lanza singing the Otello Monologue in 'Serenade.'

#31 Niun Mi Tema (Death Scene from Verdi's "Otello") (1958)

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Mario Lanza - Niun Mi Tema (stereo reproduction)

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Mario Lanza - Niun Mi Tema (alt mono reproduction)

Mario Lanza recorded the aria "Niun Mi Tema" from Act IV of Verdi's Otello at the Rome Opera House in September 1958 for his seventh and final film, For the First Time (1959). The conductor was Constantine Callinicos. 

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Lanza singing "Niun Mi Tema" in 'For the First Time.'

Dio! Mi Potevi Scagliar (Otello Monologue)
Text by Arrigo Boito; music by Giuseppe Verdi

Dio! Mi potevi scagliar tutti i mali 
God! You could have hurled at me all evils
della miseria, della vergogna, 
of misery, of shame,
far de' miei baldi trofei trionfali 
You could have made all my triumphs
una maceria, una menzogna. . .
rubble, lies. . . 
E avrei portato la croce crudel 
And I would have carried that cruel cross
d'angoscie e d'onte 
of anxiety and shame
con calma fronte
with calm resignation 
e rassegnato al volere del ciel.
and submitted to the will of Heaven.

Ma, o pianto, o duol! 
But, oh tears, oh sorrow!
m'han rapito il mirraggio
The vision has been wrenched from me  
dov'io, giulivo, l'anima acqueto.
to which I would turn to, joyfully, to comfort my soul. 
Spento è quel sol, quel sorriso, quel raggio 
Extinguished is that sun, that smile, that ray
che mi fa vivo, che mi fa lieto!
that made me alive, that gave me happiness!
Spento è quel sol, quel sorriso, quel raggio 
Extinguished is that sun, that smile, that ray
che mi fa vivo, che mi fa lieto!
that made me alive, that gave me happiness!
Tu alfin, Clemenza, pio genio immortal 
But you, oh Mild One, pious eternal spirit
dal roseo riso, 
with the rosy smile,
copri il tuo viso santo
cover your holy face
coll'orrida larva infernal!
with the horrid mask of hell!
Ah! Dannazione! 
Ah, damnation!
Pria confessi il delitto e poscia muoia! 
Let her confess the crime and then die!
Confession! Confession! 
Confession! Confession!
La prova! 
The proof!

[Iago enters]
IAGO
Cassio è là!
Cassio is there!  

OTELLO 
Là? Cielo! Oh, gioia!
There! Heavens! Oh joy!








 Niun Mi Tema (Otello Death Scene)
 Text by Arrigo Boito; music by Giuseppe Verdi

Niun mi tema 
No one fears me
s'anco armato mi vede. 
even seeing me armed.
Ecco la fine del mio camin. . .
This is the end of my journey...
Oh! Gloria Otello fu.
Oh! The glory that was Othello. 
 
[contemplando Desdemona]
[contemplating Desdemona]

E tu. . .come sei pallida! 
And you . . . how pale you are! 
E stanca, e muta, e bella, 
And weary, and silent, and beautiful, 
pia creatura nata sotto maligna stella. 
pure creature born under an evil star.
Fredda come la casta tua vita. . .
Cold as your chaste life... 
e in cielo assorta. 
and borne up to Heave.
Desdemona! Desdemona!. . .
Desdemona! Desdemona!. . .
Ah. . .morta! morta! morta!. . .
Ah. . .dead! dead! dead!
Ho un'arma ancor! [si ferisce]
I still have a weapon! [he stabs himself]

CASSIO 
Ah! Ferma!
Ah! Stop!


LODOVICO, MONTANO 
Sciagurato!

Wretched man!

OTELLO 
Pria d'ucciderti. . .sposa. . .ti baciai. 
Before killing you. . .wife. . .I kissed you.  
Or morendo. . .nell'ombra. . .
Now dying. . .in the darkness. . .
in cui mi giacio
where I lie 
Un bacio. . .un bacio ancora. . .
A kiss. . .a kiss again. . .

ah!. . .un altro bacio. . . [muore]
 ah!. . .another kiss. . . [dies



Fine dell'Opera
End of the Opera