“O del mio dolce ardor”
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Note! See “KARAOKE KORNER” below for online learning assistance:
–HIGH KEY–
–LOW KEY–
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“O del mio dolce ardor” is an icon of early Italian opera. Written by a non-Italian (Christoph Willibald von Gluck), “O del mio dolce ardor” has musical qualities which later in history would be associated with the bel canto era in Italian vocal music (“beautiful singing”). The pinnacle of bel canto were the operas of Donizetti and Bellini in the 19th century. “O del mio dolce ardor,” from the opera Paride ed Elena (Paris and Helen), has an extraordinarily beautiful vocal melody—quite striking on the ear! As was the custom in that era, it was composed with a male soprano (castrato) in mind. Here are the “O del mio dolce ardor” lyrics and “O del mio dolce ardor” translation:
O del mio dolce ardor lyrics
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O del mio dolce ardor
Bramato oggetto,
L’aura che tu respiri,
Alfin respiro.
O vunque il guardo io giro,
Le tue vaghe sembianze
Amore in me dipinge:
Il mio pensier si finge
Le più liete speranze;
E nel desio che così
M’empie il petto
Cerco te, chiamo te, spero e sospiro.
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Oh, of my sweet ardor
You desired object!
The air which you breathe,
At last I will breathe.
Wherever my glance I turn
Your lovely features
Love for me paint a picture:
My thoughts imagine
The most happy hopes,
And in the longing which
Thus fills my breast
I seek you, I call you, I hope, and I sigh. Ah!
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Our first example is a performance by countertenor, Luís Miguel Fontes. This gives some clue as to how the original performances, with male soprano, may have sounded.
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Our second example is a performance by mezzo-soprano, Teresa Berganza, whose tone quality is remarkably similar to that of the countertenor of the previous example. The limpid melody invites beautiful phrasing out of this artist.
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Nowadays, a tenor would naturally replace the male soprano voice in casting this role. Our third performance, by tenor Ramon Vargas, is a model of how this aria sounds today.
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And lastly, we have a sumptuous orchestration attending this performance by baritone, Renato Bruson. A modern trumpet takes the place of the obligato instrument, which in the original would more likely have been a violin or an oboe.
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KARAOKE KORNER . . .
Due to the quarantine requirements of the COVID-19 period, we are providing services for learning online.
Below are Karaoke-style accompaniments in both high and low keys presented along side full performances. Each listing also includes audio metronome and tonic-pitch sound videos to help you sing more independently when learning online. Sub-sections of the songs are then presented to help you dig down and refine your learning.
These measures will promote more comprehensive and effective learning while studying singing remotely. Good luck and have fun!
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–HIGH KEY–
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(back to the top…)
Metronome marking:
Tonic note pitch:
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ENTIRE ACCOMPANIMENT ONLY (high key):
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FULL PERFORMANCE:
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TOP OF PG. 91, MEASURE 7: “L’aura che tu respiri, Alfin respiro . . .”
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BOTTOM OF PG. 91, MEASURE 11: “Alfin respiro . . .”
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TOP OF PG. 92, MEASURE 14: “O vunque il guardo io giro”
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PG. 92, MEASURE 18: “Il mio pensier si finge Le più liete speranze . . .”
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TOP OF PG. 93, MEASURE 23: “E nel desio che così M’empie il petto . . .”
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PG. 93, MEASURE 26: “Cerco te, chiamo te . . .”
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PG. 93, MEASURE 28: “spero e sospiro . . .”
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BOTTOM OF PG. 93, MEASURE 31: “Ah! O del mio dolce ardor Bramato oggetto . . .”
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PG. 94, MEASURE 35: “Bramato oggetto, L’aura che tu respiri, Alfin respiro . . .”
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PG. 94, MEASURE 41: “Alfin, Alfin respiro.”
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–LOW KEY–
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(back to the top…)
Metronome marking:
Tonic note pitch:
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ENTIRE ACCOMPANIMENT ONLY (low key):
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FULL PERFORMANCE:
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TOP OF PG. 91, MEASURE 7: “L’aura che tu respiri, Alfin respiro . . .”
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BOTTOM OF PG. 91, MEASURE 11: “Alfin respiro . . .”
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TOP OF PG. 92, MEASURE 14: “O vunque il guardo io giro”
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PG. 92, MEASURE 18: “Il mio pensier si finge Le più liete speranze . . .”
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TOP OF PG. 93, MEASURE 23: “E nel desio che così M’empie il petto . . .”
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PG. 93, MEASURE 26: “Cerco te, chiamo te . . .”
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PG. 93, MEASURE 28: “spero e sospiro . . .”
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BOTTOM OF PG. 93, MEASURE 31: “Ah! O del mio dolce ardor Bramato oggetto . . .”
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PG. 94, MEASURE 35: “Bramato oggetto, L’aura che tu respiri, Alfin respiro . . .”
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PG. 94, MEASURE 41: “Alfin, Alfin respiro.”
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