La mamma morta
{{Short description|Aria from Andrea Chénier by Umberto Giordano}}
"{{lang|it|La mamma morta|italics=no}}" (The dead mother) is a soprano aria from act 3 of the 1896 opera Andrea Chénier by Umberto Giordano. {{Citation |title=Giordano: Andrea Chénier, Act 3, "La Mamma Mo... {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/giordano-andrea-ch%C3%A9nier-act-3-la-mamma-morta-mw0002969202 |access-date=2024-11-06 |language=en}} It is sung by the character Maddalena di Coigny to Gérard about how her mother died protecting her during the turmoils of the French Revolution. {{Cite web |title=AGT operatic finalist Emanne Beasha stuns with 'otherworldly' rendition of 'La mamma morta' |url=https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/videos/agt-emanne-beasha-la-mamma-morta-finals/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Classic FM |language=en}}
It was recorded in 1954 by Maria Callas. {{Cite web |last=KernKonzepte |title=La mamma morta – Maria Callas, 1954 |url=https://opera-guide.ch/highlights/show_record.php?id=109&uilang=en |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Opera Guide |language=en-US}} This version used in the soundtrack to 1993 drama film Philadelphia. Subsequent notable recordings include Anna Netrebko in 2016. {{Cite web |last=Huizenga |first=Tom |date=11 August 2016 |title=Deceptive Cadence |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2016/08/11/489222877/songs-we-love-anna-netrebko-la-mamma-morta |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=NPR Classical}}
It was performed by ten-year old opera singer Emanne Beasha on the 2019 final of televised American talent show America's Got Talent season 14.
Libretto
alla porta della stanza mia
Moriva e mi salvava!
poi a notte alta
io con Bersi errava,
quando ad un tratto
un livido bagliore guizza
e rischiara innanzi a' passi miei
la cupa via!
Guardo!
Bruciava il loco di mia culla!
Così fui sola!
E intorno il nulla!
Fame e miseria!
Il bisogno, il periglio!
Caddi malata,
e Bersi, buona e pura,
di sua bellezza ha fatto un mercato,
un contratto per me!
Porto sventura a chi bene mi vuole!
Fu in quel dolore
che a me venne l'amor!
Voce piena d'armonia e dice
Vivi ancora! Io son la vita!
Ne' miei occhi è il tuo cielo!
Tu non sei sola!
Le lacrime tue io le raccolgo!
Io sto sul tuo cammino e ti sorreggo!
Sorridi e spera! Io son l'amore!
Tutto intorno è sangue e fango?
Io son divino! Io son l'oblio!
Io sono il dio che sovra il mondo
scendo da l'empireo, fa della terra
un ciel! Ah!
Io son l'amore, io son l'amor, l'amor
E l'angelo si accosta, bacia,
e vi bacia la morte!
Corpo di moribonda è il corpo mio.
Prendilo dunque.
Io son già morta cosa
at the door of my room
She died and saved me.
Later, at dead of night,
I wandered with Bersi,
when suddenly
a bright glow flickers
and lights were ahead of me
the dark street!
I looked –
My childhood home was on fire!
I was alone!
surrounded by nothingness!
Hunger and misery
deprivation, danger!
I fell ill,
and Bersi, so good and pure
made a market, a deal, of her beauty
for me –
I bring misfortune to all who care for me!
It was then, in my grief,
that love came to me.
A voice full of harmony says,
"Keep on living, I am life itself!
Your heaven is in my eyes!
You are not alone.
I collect all your tears
I walk with you and support you!
Smile and hope! I am Love!
Are you surrounded by blood and mire?
I am Divine! I am oblivion!
I am the God above the world
I descend from the empyrean and make this Earth
A heaven! Ah!
I am love, love, love."
And the angel approaches with a kiss,
and he kisses death –
A dying body is my body.
So take it.
I am already dead matter!{{Clear|left}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.aria-database.com/search.php?individualAria=47 "La mamma morta"], Aria Database
- {{YouTube|Yxk6iO3K9hQ|La mamma morta}}, Renata Tebaldi, 1960
- {{YouTube|1LIaDARTSPE|"La mamma morta"}}, Maria Callas
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