Alfie's trajectory was set when he left home to join the D'Oyly Carte Touring Opera Company. It was a fine experience but it wasn't enough for the young Boe. He wanted to learn his art thoroughly and left for London enrolling at the Royal College of Music. After graduating he joined the The National Opera Studio and then went on to the Villar Young Artists Programme at The Royal Opera House.
It has been well documented that Alfie's first break came when Baz Luhrmann, after spending two years looking for one of the main leads for his controversial production of Puccini's 'La Boheme' approached Alfie for the role. His performance on Broadway led to him winning a Tony Award which sits comfortably next to his John McCormack Young Voice Award and Lyric Tenor of the World Audience Award.
There have been many highlights in his career but the last 12 months have been exceptional. Alfie has enjoyed two chart topping classical albums and now finds himself on the eve of releasing his third studio album; he was nominated for a Classical Brit Award for 'Best Album' sharing the category with Sir Paul McCartney and Sting; he's toured the length and breadth of the country; performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Lesley Garratt and Sir Willard White; performed in a sell-out run of the English National Opera's production of Kismet alongside Michael Ball and performed at Clarence House where he graciously accepted the role as Ambassador for HRH's Arts & Kids Foundation.
Caruso
Alfie Boe Lyrics
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Su una vecchia terrazza davanti al golfo di Surriento
Un uomo abbraccia una ragazza dopo che aveva pianto
Poi si schiarisce la voce e ricomincia il canto
Te voglio bene assaie ma tanto bene sai
É una catena ormai che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai
Vide le luci in mezzo al mare pensó alle notti lá in America
Sentí il dolore nella musica si alzó dal pianoforte
Ma quando vide la luna uscire da un nuvola
Gli sembró piú dolce anche la morte
Guardó negli occhi la ragazza quegli occhi verdi come il mare
Poi all'improvviso uscí una lacrima e lui credette di affogare
Te voglio bene assaie ma tanto tanto bene sai
É una catena ormai che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai
Potenza della lircica dove ogni dramma é un falso
Che con un pó di trucco e con la mimica puoi diventare un altro
Ma due occhi che ti guardano cosí vicini e veri
Ti fan scordare le parole confondono i pensieri
Cosí diventa tutto piccolo anche le nottie lá in America
Ti volti e vedi la tua vita come lá scia di un'elica
Ma si é la vita che finisce ma lui non ci pensó poi tanto
Anzi si sentiva giá felice e ricominció il suo canto
Te voglio bene assaie ma tanto tanto bene sai
É una catena ormai che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai
Te voglio bene assaie ma tanto tanto bene sai
É una catena ormai che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai
The lyrics of Alfie Boe's song Caruso describe a man who is moved by both music and love. The setting is a terrace overlooking the Gulf of Sorrento, where the man embraces a woman after she had been crying. He then clears his voice and begins to sing. He tells her how much he loves her, how their love is like a chain that flows through their veins, and how it is a bond that can never be broken.
As the song progresses, the man reminisces about his past in America, where he saw the lights in the middle of the sea and was overwhelmed by the pain in the music. However, when he sees the moon appear from behind a cloud, he feels that even death would be sweet. He looks into the woman's eyes, which are green like the sea, and suddenly a tear falls from her eye. This confuses the man, but he continues to sing about his love for her.
The song is a beautiful example of how music and love are intertwined, each having the power to move us in ways we never thought possible. It is a reminder that even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, it is possible to find joy and happiness through the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Qui dove il mare luccica e tira forte il vento
Here, where the sea shines and the wind blows strong
Su una vecchia terrazza davanti al golfo di Surriento
On an old terrace in front of the Gulf of Sorrento
Un uomo abbraccia una ragazza dopo che aveva pianto
A man embraces a girl after she had cried
Poi si schiarisce la voce e ricomincia il canto
Then he clears his voice and starts singing again
Te voglio bene assaie ma tanto bene sai
I love you very much, you know, so much
É una catena ormai che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai
It's a chain now that's melting the blood in the veins, you know
Vide le luci in mezzo al mare pensó alle notti lá in America
He saw the lights in the middle of the sea and thought of the nights in America
Ma erano solo le lampare e la bianca scia di un'elica
But they were only the lamps and the white trail of a propeller
Sentí il dolore nella musica si alzó dal pianoforte
He felt the pain in the music and got up from the piano
Ma quando vide la luna uscire da un nuvola
But when he saw the moon come out from behind a cloud
Gli sembró piú dolce anche la morte
Even death seemed sweeter to him
Guardó negli occhi la ragazza quegli occhi verdi come il mare
He looked into the eyes of the girl, those eyes as green as the sea
Poi all'improvviso uscí una lacrima e lui credette di affogare
Then suddenly a tear fell and he felt like he was drowning
Potenza della lircica dove ogni dramma é un falso
The power of lyricism where every drama is a falsehood
Che con un pó di trucco e con la mimica puoi diventare un altro
Where with a bit of makeup and mimicry, you can become someone else
Ma due occhi che ti guardano cosí vicini e veri
But two eyes that look at you so closely and truthfully
Ti fan scordare le parole confondono i pensieri
Make you forget the words and confuse your thoughts
Cosí diventa tutto piccolo anche le nottie lá in America
So everything becomes small, even the nights in America
Ti volti e vedi la tua vita come lá scia di un'elica
You turn around and see your life like the wake of a propeller
Ma si é la vita che finisce ma lui non ci pensó poi tanto
But it's life that ends, yet he didn't think about it so much
Anzi si sentiva giá felice e ricominció il suo canto
In fact, he already felt happy and started singing again
Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.