Formed in Veneto in 1973 around the nucleus of soprano Donella Del Monaco (the niece of famous tenor Mario Del Monaco), pianist-composer Alfredo Tisocco, philosopher Giorgio Bisotto and producer Renato Marengo, and aided in the years by many other musicians, the group released their first album in 1974, Opus Avantra - Donella Del Monaco (often referred to as Introspezione, from the title of the first track) on the collectible Trident label.
Usually considered their most accessible work, the album is built on classical-inspired themes with complex arrangements and dominated by the nice soprano voice of singer Del Monaco and good flute playing, with just an instrumental track, Rituale. The band also had a good live activity promoting their album in Veneto and Rome.
Donella Del Monaco was absent on the second album Lord Cromwell (plays suite for seven vices), that follows in the same style as the previous work, being replaced by an American chorus. Former Nuova Idea drummer Paolo Siani played on this album, that like the first one contains some interesting passages for the adventurous listeners.
Both Alfredo Tisocco (along with Gruppo Italiano di Danza Libera in 1975's Katharsis) and Donella Del Monaco (with 12 canzoni da battello in 1977 and Schoenberg Kabarett in 1978) also released individual albums in the same vein, and the duo reunited under the name Opus Avantra for a third album in 1989, Strata, and a CD-only fourth release in 1995, Lyrics.
2008 saw the reunion of Opus Avantra with Donella Del Monaco, Alfredo Tisocco and Giorgio Bisotto, for concerts in Romania and Japan, based on material from all their albums. The line-up also features Valerio Galla (drumes and percussion), Mauro Martello (flute), Anca Elena Botezatu (violin), Ioana Ionescu (violin), Alexandra Butnaru (viola), Violeta Loredana Dumitru (cello), and the show was directly produced by the reborn Cramps, with lights, sound and scenes made by Alan Walter Bedin.
The Tokyo concert was used for the DVD Viaggio immaginario/Live in Tokyo 2008.
Il pavone
Opus Avantra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
scoppi di rimorsi senza senso,
gioco di allucinazione ancora,
dove il tempo si è confuso insieme.
Grido ma la voce non la sento,
occhi miei almeno un po' di pianto.
E il pavone lancia il suo richiamo,
la carrozza illuminata mi raccoglie,
lieve irrealtà,
soffio di lucidità,
intuizione che il nuovo giorno si apre in me.
amore cosa fai?
io tremo ancora!
La tua mano non mi fa paura
ma sorrido già,
eccomi sono qui,
una donna ormai,
questo tu lo sai,
una donna che non ha incertezza nella sua realtà.
La tua mano mi accarezza appena,
sfiora la mia gonna stropicciata,
e mi guardi fisso dentro gli occhi,
che abbasso un po' per l'imbarazzo.
E in fondo a me mi sento un po' mancare,
il tuo sguardo mi si insinua nella mente,
leggi su di me,
questa mia fragilità,
sorridi perche sai,
che hai già vinto su di me.
Amore cosa fai?
io tremo ancora.
La tua mano non mi fa paura
ma sorrido già,
eccomi sono qui,
una donna ormai,
questo tu lo sai,
una donna che non ha incertezza nella sua realtà.
The song Il pavone by Opus Avantra seems to be a reflection of a moment of confusion, regret and self-doubt, followed by a sudden realization and acceptance of a new beginning. The opening lines suggest a chaotic and meaningless chatter, filled with remorse and hallucinations, as if the singer is lost in a haze of conflicting emotions and thoughts. The image of a peacock (il pavone) calling out seems to represent a moment of clarity, a symbol of hope in the midst of confusion. Then, as if in a dream, a carriage comes to pick up the singer, completing the surreal atmosphere of the song.
The second part of the lyrics shifts to a more personal and intimate tone, as the singer addresses a lover. She admits to feeling some fear and vulnerability, but also a sense of empowerment and confidence. By declaring herself "una donna ormai" (a woman now), she affirms her identity and purpose, no longer uncertain of her reality. The lover's touch and gaze seem to have a profound effect on the singer, both physically and mentally, as she feels her guard being let down and her fragility being exposed. However, there is also a sense of trust and surrender, as she accepts that the lover has already won her over. The final lines of the song echo the first, as the singer asks again, "Amore cosa fai? Io tremo ancora" (Love, what are you doing? I still tremble), but this time with a hint of excitement and anticipation.
Line by Line Meaning
Folla di inutili parole,
A crowd of pointless words,
scoppi di rimorsi senza senso,
Outbursts of meaningless remorse,
gioco di allucinazione ancora,
A game of hallucination once again,
dove il tempo si è confuso insieme.
Where time has become confused together.
Grido ma la voce non la sento,
I scream but do not hear my own voice,
occhi miei almeno un po' di pianto.
My eyes shed a bit of tears at least.
E il pavone lancia il suo richiamo,
And the peacock emits its call,
la carrozza illuminata mi raccoglie,
The illuminated carriage picks me up,
lieve irrealtà,
Slight unreality,
soffio di lucidità,
Breath of lucidity,
intuizione che il nuovo giorno si apre in me.
Intuition that the new day is opening within me.
amore cosa fai?
Love, what are you doing?
io tremo ancora!
I still tremble!
La tua mano non mi fa paura
Your hand does not scare me
ma sorrido già,
But I already smile,
eccomi sono qui,
Here I am,
una donna ormai,
A woman now,
questo tu lo sai,
You know this,
una donna che non ha incertezza nella sua realtà.
A woman who has no uncertainty in her reality.
La tua mano mi accarezza appena,
Your hand just barely caresses me,
sfiora la mia gonna stropicciata,
Touches my wrinkled dress,
e mi guardi fisso dentro gli occhi,
And stares fixedly into my eyes,
che abbasso un po' per l'imbarazzo.
Which I lower a bit due to embarrassment.
E in fondo a me mi sento un po' mancare,
And deep down I feel myself faltering a bit,
il tuo sguardo mi si insinua nella mente,
Your gaze seeps into my mind,
leggi su di me,
Read me,
questa mia fragilità,
This fragility of mine,
sorridi perche sai,
You smile because you know,
che hai già vinto su di me.
That you have already won over me.
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.