Garrett has performed across the whole world and has also sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall to celebrate the arrival of the new century on Millennium Eve, in the grounds at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.
She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari, in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. As of November 2006, Garrett was performing as Mother Abbess for six months, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.
As a recording artist, Garrett has released eleven solo albums. Many of her albums have received gold and silver status. Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for "Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year". Garrett was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for services to music.
She is also a presenter on the UK commercial radio station "Classic FM".
O mio Babbino Caro
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi piace, è bello, bello
Vo′andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
E se l′amassi indarno
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Mi struggo e mi tormento
O Dio, vorrei morir
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Babbo, pietà, pietà
The lyrics to Lesley Garrett's song "O Mio Babbino Caro" are a plea from a daughter to her father, expressing her desire to marry the man she loves. The daughter sings about her love for her father, but also about her love for the man she wishes to marry. She wants to go to the Porta Rossa to buy a ring for her beloved and is pleading with her father to let her go. She is willing to do anything to be with the man she loves, even if it means throwing herself into the Arno River on the Ponte Vecchio if her father does not approve. She is so tormented by her love for the man that she begs for her father's mercy, essentially saying that she cannot live without him.
Line by Line Meaning
O mio babbino caro
Oh my dear father
Mi piace, è bello, bello
I like him, he's handsome, so handsome
Vo′andare in Porta Rossa
I want to go to Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello
To buy the ring
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
Yes, yes, I want to go there
E se l′amassi indarno
And if my love were in vain
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
I would go to Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno
But to throw myself into the Arno
Mi struggo e mi tormento
I am pining and tormented
O Dio, vorrei morir
Oh God, I wish I could die
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have mercy, have mercy
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have mercy, have mercy
Writer(s): Giacomo Puccini, Helen M. Marrs
Contributed by Parker N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ella Lena
The Diva from Doncaster.
Donna Kennedy
fantastic I have been looking for this clip
TackyLuau
💖
Consuelo Bettinelli
Not the best soprano but one with courage and passion. She was singing apparently unprepared. If so, my compliments.