#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.
Lanza singing the Otello Monologue in 'Serenade.'
#31 Niun Mi Tema (Death Scene from Verdi's "Otello") (1958)
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.
After you've listened to and rated these two recordings, you may be interested in reading our forum discussion.
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!
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.
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. . .
