Sir Paolo Tosti (April 9, 1846 – December 2, 1916) was an Italian, later Br… Read Full Bio ↴Sir Paolo Tosti (April 9, 1846 – December 2, 1916) was an Italian, later British, composer and music teacher.
Tosti is remembered for his light, expressive songs, which are characterized by natural, singable melodies and sweet sentimentality. He is also known for his editions of Italian folk songs entitled "Canti popoliari Abruzzesi". His style became very popular during the Belle Époque and is often known as salon music. His most famous works are Serenata (lyrics: Cesareo), Goodbye (lyrics: George J. Whyte Mellville) which is sometimes performed in Italian as Addio (lyrics: Rizzelli), and the popular Neapolitan song, Marechiare, the lyrics of which are by the prominent Neapolitan dialect poet, Salvatore Di Giacomo.
As a composer, Tosti is exceptional. Since the beginning of the recording era, numerous recording artists specializing in classical Italian repertoire have recorded Tosti songs, yet Tosti never composed opera. Notable examples on recording include Alessandro Moreschi (the only castrato who ever recorded) singing "Ideale", Nellie Melba singing "Mattinata" and Jussi Björling singing "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra".
Francesco Paolo Tosti received most of his music education in his native Ortona, Italy, as well as the conservatory in Naples. Tosti began his music education at the Royal College of San Pietro a Majella at the age of eleven. He studied violin with Pinto and composition with Saverio Mercadante,who became so impressed with Tosti that he appointed him student teacher, which afforded the young man a meagre salary of sixty francs a month. Poor health forced Tosti to leave his studies and return home to Ortona. He was confined to his bed for several months. During this time he composed several songs, two of which he submitted to the Florentine Art Society, and two others he submitted for publication to Ricordi. All four were rejected.
Once recovered from his illness, Tosti moved to Ancona, where his poverty was such that for weeks at a time he subsisted on nothing but oranges and stale bread. His travels brought him to Rome, where his fortunes turned. He met the pianist and composer Giovanni Sgambati, who became his patron. Sgambati arranged for Tosti to give a concert at the Sala Dante at which the Princess Margherita of Savoy (who later became Queen of Italy) was present. She was so impressed with his performance that she appointed him her singing professor. She later appointed him curator of the Musical Archives of Italy at the Court.[2]
In 1875 Tosti traveled to London, England. He made several powerful friends who introduced him to the highest levels of English society. Tosti was a staple in fashionable drawing rooms and salons, and in 1880, he was made singing master to the Royal Family. His fame as a composer of songs grew rapidly while he was in England. One of his compositions, For ever and ever was introduced by Violet Cameron at the Globe Theatre. This song became a favorite overnight, and there was an enormous demand for his compositions. By 1885 he was the most popular composer of songs in England. His publishers paid him a staggering retaining fee for twelve songs a year.
In 1894 Tosti joined the Royal Academy of Music as a professor. In 1906, he became a British citizen and was knighted two years later by his friend, King Edward VII. In 1913 he returned to Italy to spend his last years there. He died in Rome on December 2, 1916.
Tosti is remembered for his light, expressive songs, which are characterized by natural, singable melodies and sweet sentimentality. He is also known for his editions of Italian folk songs entitled "Canti popoliari Abruzzesi". His style became very popular during the Belle Époque and is often known as salon music. His most famous works are Serenata (lyrics: Cesareo), Goodbye (lyrics: George J. Whyte Mellville) which is sometimes performed in Italian as Addio (lyrics: Rizzelli), and the popular Neapolitan song, Marechiare, the lyrics of which are by the prominent Neapolitan dialect poet, Salvatore Di Giacomo.
As a composer, Tosti is exceptional. Since the beginning of the recording era, numerous recording artists specializing in classical Italian repertoire have recorded Tosti songs, yet Tosti never composed opera. Notable examples on recording include Alessandro Moreschi (the only castrato who ever recorded) singing "Ideale", Nellie Melba singing "Mattinata" and Jussi Björling singing "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra".
Francesco Paolo Tosti received most of his music education in his native Ortona, Italy, as well as the conservatory in Naples. Tosti began his music education at the Royal College of San Pietro a Majella at the age of eleven. He studied violin with Pinto and composition with Saverio Mercadante,who became so impressed with Tosti that he appointed him student teacher, which afforded the young man a meagre salary of sixty francs a month. Poor health forced Tosti to leave his studies and return home to Ortona. He was confined to his bed for several months. During this time he composed several songs, two of which he submitted to the Florentine Art Society, and two others he submitted for publication to Ricordi. All four were rejected.
Once recovered from his illness, Tosti moved to Ancona, where his poverty was such that for weeks at a time he subsisted on nothing but oranges and stale bread. His travels brought him to Rome, where his fortunes turned. He met the pianist and composer Giovanni Sgambati, who became his patron. Sgambati arranged for Tosti to give a concert at the Sala Dante at which the Princess Margherita of Savoy (who later became Queen of Italy) was present. She was so impressed with his performance that she appointed him her singing professor. She later appointed him curator of the Musical Archives of Italy at the Court.[2]
In 1875 Tosti traveled to London, England. He made several powerful friends who introduced him to the highest levels of English society. Tosti was a staple in fashionable drawing rooms and salons, and in 1880, he was made singing master to the Royal Family. His fame as a composer of songs grew rapidly while he was in England. One of his compositions, For ever and ever was introduced by Violet Cameron at the Globe Theatre. This song became a favorite overnight, and there was an enormous demand for his compositions. By 1885 he was the most popular composer of songs in England. His publishers paid him a staggering retaining fee for twelve songs a year.
In 1894 Tosti joined the Royal Academy of Music as a professor. In 1906, he became a British citizen and was knighted two years later by his friend, King Edward VII. In 1913 he returned to Italy to spend his last years there. He died in Rome on December 2, 1916.
L'Alba Separa Dalla Luce L'ombra
Francesco Paolo Tosti Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'L'Alba Separa Dalla Luce L'ombra' by these artists:
Andrea Bocelli L'alba sepra dalla luce l'ombra E la mia voluttà dal mio…
Andrea Bocelli / Lorin Maazel / LSO L'alba sepra dalla luce l'ombra E la mia voluttà dal mio…
Andrea Bocelli/London Symphony Orchestra L'alba sepra dalla luce l'ombra E la mia voluttà dal mio…
Andrea Bocelli/Lorin Maazel L'alba sepra dalla luce l'ombra E la mia voluttà dal mio…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Francesco Paolo Tosti:
'A vucchella Sì, comm′a nu sciorillo Tu tiene na vucchella Nu poco pocori…
Aprile Non senti tu nell′aria Il profumo che spande primavera? Non …
Chanson de l'adieu Partir c′est mourir un peu C'est mourir À ce qu′on aime On l…
L'Ultima Canzone M'han detto che domani, Nina vi fate sposa, ed io…
La serenata Vola, o serenata, la mia diletta e sola E con la…
Luna d'estate luna destate…
Malia Cosa c'era ne 'l fior che m'hai dato? forse un filtro,…
Ninna nanna Ninna nanna, mio figliuolo! Ninna nanna, occhi ridenti! Cant…
Pour un Baiser VIctor Nimekam na moto–oh Moto moto–oh (Dj Venji) Dance to …
Preghiera alla mente confusa di dubbio e di dolore soccorri, o mio…
Sogno Ho sognato che stavi a ginocchi Come un santo che prega…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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jsphotos
One of the better versions of this great song!
Francesco Paolo Tosti / Gabriele D'Annunzio
L'alba sepra dalla luce l'ombra,
E la mia volutta dal mio desire.
O dolce stelle, l'ora di morire.
Un piu divino amor dal ciel vi sgombra.
Pupille ardenti, O voi senza ritorno
Stelle tristi, spegnetevi incorrotte!
Morir debbo. Veder non voglio il giorno,
Per amor del mio sogno e della notte.
Chiudimi,
O Notte, nel tuo sen materno,
Mentre la terra pallida s'irrora.
Ma che dal sangue mio nasca l'aurora
E dal sogno mio breve il sole eterno!
E dal sogno mio breve il sole eterno!
Translation:
The dawn divides the darkness from light,
And my sensual pleasure from my desire,
O sweet stars, it is the hour of death.
A love more holy clears you from the skies.
Gleaming eyes, O you who'll ne'er return,
sad stars, snuff out your uncorrupted light!
I must die, I do not want to see the day,
For love of my own dream and of the night.
Envelop me,
O Night, in your maternal breast,
While the pale earth bathes itself in dew;
But let the dawn rise from my blood
And from my brief dream the eternal sun!
Bangkok Voice Coach
This is the best I’ve ever heard him sing. He sounds so deeply connected to the song.
Colin Hills
Wonderful interpretation and what a voice! Bravo Bravo!
Songelosodelzefiro
Juan Diego Florez was in a fantastic form in this recital! His interpretation of "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra" is unique. Bravo, JDF! And thank you for delivering this video.
Giovanni Dagnino
Juan Diego Flórez riunisce in sè tutti i migliori principi del Bel Canto itaiano così come li troviamo espressi nei famosi trattati di Tosi, Mancini, Garcia, e il Metodo di Canto del Conservatorio di Parigi. Non si potrebbe immaginare una migliore gestione del fiato che sostiene il suono, una migliore espressività, un migliore legato. Complimenti
FrankAlba
what a beautiful voice...
Konrad Ottingen
Bravissimo il maestro Vincenzo Scalera, un vero artista
orlando098
Lovely sensitive, passionate rendition. I love this song even if I would like to be able to ask the poet more about what it's meant to be about! It seems to be a kind of love song to the night, with poetic exaggeration about how the poet is going to die along with the starlight because he doesn't want the day to come, but then it ends instead with hailing the glorious 'eternal' sun which comes after his night time dream has died. I presume there are also meant to be religious overtones of death into ethernal life?
orlando098
...I also struggle to know what is meant by the dawn separating my pleasure from my desire...
jsphotos
One of the better versions of this great song!
Francesco Paolo Tosti / Gabriele D'Annunzio
L'alba sepra dalla luce l'ombra,
E la mia volutta dal mio desire.
O dolce stelle, l'ora di morire.
Un piu divino amor dal ciel vi sgombra.
Pupille ardenti, O voi senza ritorno
Stelle tristi, spegnetevi incorrotte!
Morir debbo. Veder non voglio il giorno,
Per amor del mio sogno e della notte.
Chiudimi,
O Notte, nel tuo sen materno,
Mentre la terra pallida s'irrora.
Ma che dal sangue mio nasca l'aurora
E dal sogno mio breve il sole eterno!
E dal sogno mio breve il sole eterno!
Translation:
The dawn divides the darkness from light,
And my sensual pleasure from my desire,
O sweet stars, it is the hour of death.
A love more holy clears you from the skies.
Gleaming eyes, O you who'll ne'er return,
sad stars, snuff out your uncorrupted light!
I must die, I do not want to see the day,
For love of my own dream and of the night.
Envelop me,
O Night, in your maternal breast,
While the pale earth bathes itself in dew;
But let the dawn rise from my blood
And from my brief dream the eternal sun!
Terrie Tackett
Magnificent!!💕💕