Casta Diva
Maria Callas Lyrics
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Casta Diva, che inargenti
Queste sacre
Queste sacre
Queste sacre antiche piante
A noi volgi il bel sembiante
A noi volgi
A noi volgi, ah
Il bel sembiante
Senza nube e senza vel
(Casta diva che inargenti)
(Queste sacre antiche piante) ah
(A noi volgi il bel sembiante) aah, aah
(Senza nube e senza vel) aah, aah
(Casta diva che inargenti) sì
(Queste sacre antiche piante) aah
(A noi volgi il bel sembiante) aah, aah
(Senza nube e senza vel) aah, aah
Tempra, o Diva
Tempra tu de' cori ardenti
Tempra ancora
Tempra ancora
Tempra ancor lo zelo audace
Spargi in terra quella pace
Spargi in terra
Spargi in terra, ah
Che regnar, regnar tu fai
Tu fai nel ciel
Tu fai, aah, sì
Tu fai, aah, nel ciel
The lyrics to Maria Callas's song Casta Diva are written in Italian, and they call out to the goddess of chastity, Casta Diva. The song is from the opera Norma, which tells the story of a Druid priestess who is torn between her love for a Roman proconsul and her loyalty to her people. In the first stanza, the singer is calling out to Casta Diva to bring peace and beauty without any clouds or veils. They ask the goddess to temper the ardor in their hearts and to also do the same for those who are bold in their zeal.
In the second stanza, the singer is talking about ending the ceremony in the sacred grove and clearing the area of the profane. They speak of a time when the angry and dark gods demand the blood of the Romans, and in that moment, the singer's voice will thunder from the Druidic temple. They say that they are capable of punishing those who have wronged them, but they also admit that their heart does not know how to do so. They then call out to their beloved to return to them, asking for the love and protection that they once had. They call for their beloved's radiant light to shine on them and give them life, home, and heaven.
Overall, the lyrics in Casta Diva are a prayer to Casta Diva for peace, temperance, and protection, while also grappling with the conflict and turmoil within the singer's heart. The song is a moving portrayal of the struggles of love, faith, and duty that are central to the opera Norma.
Line by Line Meaning
Casta Diva, che inargenti queste sacre antiche piante,
Oh pure goddess, who shines upon these sacred ancient plants,
a noi volgi il bel sembiante senza nube e senza vel...
please turn your beautiful face to us, free from any cloud or veil...
Tempra, o Diva, tempra tu de cori ardenti
Oh goddess, calm the burning hearts...
tempra ancora lo zelo audace, spargi in terra quella pace
calm the zealous audacity and spread the peace over the Earth
che regnar tu fai nel ciel...
that you make reign in the heavens...
Fine al rito: e il sacro bosco sia disgombro dai profani.
The rite is over: let the sacred grove be free from the profane.
Quando il Nume irato e fosco Chiegga il sangue dei Romani,
When the angered and somber divinity requests the Romans' blood,
Dal druidico delubro la mia voce tuoner .
My voice will thunder from the Druidic temple.
Cadrà; punirlo io posso. (Ma, punirlo, il cor non sa.
He will fall; I can punish him. (But my heart does not know how to punish)
Ah! bello a me ritorna del fido amor primiero;
Oh! Return to me, my faithful love;
E contro il mondo intiero... Difesa a te sar.
And against the whole world... I will defend you.
Ah! bello a me ritorna del raggio tuo sereno;
Oh! Return to me, your serene ray;
E vita nel tuo seno, e patria e cielo avrà.
And I will find life in your embrace, and homeland and heaven.
Ah, riedi ancora qual eri allora, quando il cor ti diedi allora.
Oh, come back to me as you were then, when I gave you my heart.
Ah, riedi a me.
Oh, come back to me.
Lyrics © Broma 16
Written by: Vincenzo Bellini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eitanjakoubovitch3440
Unbelievable. This concert was in 1958, 66 years ago and still, no other singer sings like Maria.
Who's listening in 2024??
@mo1240
Kiri TeKanawa is amazing too
@gertweber157
me!
@colinjoseph2706
Me taff, listened to this great woman for years.
@mrc19591
And me
@iValkure
@@mo1240 Kiri ?! I don't think she ever attempted Norma though.... Not for her voice.
@Ahmaddakheel
Am I alone here in 2024 ?
@felixmintaka504
no
@mariamagdziarz4731
No ❤
@grmm91
No