He soon gained fame due to the power and strength of his voice. The young tenor earned valuable experience and significant recognition while touring on the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland, making his 1965 U.S. debut in Miami, Florida on her recommendation. His position was solidified in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which Pavarotti first appeared at Milan's seminal La Scala, at other major European houses, and, in 1968, at NYC's Metropolitan Opera. He received great acclaim, particularly working well with Joan Sutherland.
By the mid-70s, the tenor became known worldwide, famed for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. His "high C" became one of his trademarks. The late 70s and 80s saw Pavarotti making significant appearances in the world's opera houses and establishing himself as one of the great singers of the era.
Popular stardom came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the performances of "Nessun Dorma" (from Turandot) and as one of The Three Tenors in their famed first concert held on the eve of the final match of the tournament (repeated at later Cups). Pavarotti sang together with fellow star tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras and brought to the much wider audience hits previously confined to the opera world. Appearances in advertisements and with pop icons in concerts around the world furthered his influence. Pavarotti always maintained his identity as an opera star, unlike many crossover artists.
The later years brought a decline in ability to perform on stage due to a weight gain and lack of mobility. Pavarotti's final appearance in an opera was at the Met in March 2004. The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy saw him performing for the last time. Pavarotti sang Nessun Dorma, with the crowd as its Chorus, and got a thunderous standing ovation. On September 6, 2007, he died at home in Modena from pancreatic cancer.
Lucia Di Lammermoor
Luciano Pavarotti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chi troncò dell' ira il corso?
Il suo duolo, il suo spavento
So la prova d'un rimorso
Ma, qual rosa inaridita,
Ella sta fra morte e vita
Io son vinto son commosso
T'amo, ingrata, t'amo ancor
Io sperai che a me la vita
Tronca avesse il mio spavento
Ma la morte non m'aita
Vivo ancor per mio tormento
Da' miei lumi cadde il velò
Mi tradì la terra e il cielo
Vorrei pianger, ma non posso
Ah mi manca il pianto ancor
Qual terribile momento
Più formar non so parole
Densa nube di spavento
Par che copra i rai del sole
Come rosa inaridita
Ella sta fra morte e vita
Chi per lei non è commossa
Ha di tigre in petto il cor
T'allontana, sciagurato
O il tuo sangue fia versato
Morirò, ma insiem col mio
Atro sange scorrerà
Rispettate, o voi, di Dio
La tremanda Maestà
In suo nome io vel commando
Deponete l'ira e il brando
Pace, pace egli abborrisce
L'omicida, e scritto sta
Chi di ferro altrui ferisce
Pur di ferro perirà.
Ravenswood in queste porte
Chi ti guida?
La mia sorte
Il mio dritto sì Lucia
La sua fede a me giurò
Questo amor per sempre obblia
Ella è d' altri
D'altri ah no
Mira
Tremi ti confondi
Son tue cifre?
A me rispondi
Son tue cifre?
Si
Riprendi
Il tuo pegno, infido cor
Il mio dammi
Almen
Lo rendi
Hai tradito il crelo, e amor
Maledetto sia l'instante
Ohe di te mi rese amante
Stirpe iniqua abbominata
Io dovea da te fuggir
Ah di Dio la mano irata
Ti disperda
These lyrics are from the opera Rigoletto, specifically from Act 2. In this scene, the character Rigoletto is consumed by anger and remorse. He is deeply troubled by the events that have unfolded and the pain he feels. However, despite his anger, he still loves the woman who has caused him so much suffering. He expresses his conflicting emotions, admitting that he is defeated and moved, and that he still loves her despite her ingratitude.
Rigoletto had hoped that his fear would have cut short his life, but death has not come to his aid. He continues to live in torment as his thoughts and beliefs have been shattered. He feels betrayed by those in whom he had placed his trust, and longs to cry but finds himself unable to do so. He describes the moment as terrible, unable to find the right words to express his feelings. The imagery used likens the situation to a withered rose, with the woman he loves standing between life and death. Rigoletto warns that those who are not moved by her plight have hearts as cold as tigers.
As the scene progresses, Rigoletto confronts the person responsible for his suffering, demanding that he leave or face the consequences. He willingly accepts his fate, even if it means that his blood will be shed alongside his enemy's. However, Gilda, Rigoletto's daughter, intervenes and pleads for mercy in the name of God. She commands them to put aside their anger and weapons, reminding them that those who harm others will also meet their own demise.
In the final lines, Ravenswood, a character seeking revenge, enters and asks who guides him to this place. Rigoletto responds that it is his destiny and his right to seek justice for what has been done. Ravenswood offers his love to Gilda, implying that she should forget their love and be with someone else. Gilda insists that she only belongs to Ravenswood and no one else.
Overall, these lyrics encapsulate the complex emotions, conflicts, and themes of love, betrayal, and revenge that are central to the opera Rigoletto.
Line by Line Meaning
Chi mi frena in tal momento?
Who is stopping me at this moment?
Chi troncò dell' ira il corso?
Who interrupted the course of anger?
Il suo duolo, il suo spavento
Her pain, her fear
So la prova d'un rimorso
I know the proof of remorse
Ma, qual rosa inaridita
But, like a withered rose
Ella sta fra morte e vita
She stands between life and death
Io son vinto son commosso
I am defeated, I am moved
T'amo, ingrata, t'amo ancor
I love you, ungrateful one, I still love you
Io sperai che a me la vita
I hoped that life would be mine
Tronca avesse il mio spavento
Cutting off my fear
Ma la morte non m'aita
But death does not help me
Vivo ancor per mio tormento
I am alive still for my torment
Da' miei lumi cadde il vélo
The veil fell from my eyes
Mi tradì la terra e il cielo
Earth and heaven betrayed me
Vorrei pianger, ma non posso
I would like to cry, but I can't
Ah mi manca il pianto ancor
Ah, I still lack tears
Qual terribile momento
What a terrible moment
Più formar non so parole
I can't form words anymore
Densa nube di spavento
Thick cloud of fear
Par che copra i rai del sole
It seems to cover the rays of the sun
Come rosa inaridita
Like a withered rose
Ella sta fra morte e vita
She stands between life and death
Chi per lei non è commossa
Whoever is not moved by her
Ha di tigre in petto il cor
Has a tiger's heart in their chest
T'allontana, sciagurato
Go away, wretch
O il tuo sangue fia versato
Or your blood will be shed
Morirò, ma insiem col mio
I will die but along with mine
Atro sange scorrerà
A dark blood will flow
Rispettate, o voi, di Dio
Respect, oh you, of God
La tremanda Maestà
His terrible Majesty
In suo nome io vel commando
In His name, I command you
Deponete l'ira e il brando
Put down your anger and your sword
Pace, pace egli abborrisce
Peace, peace he abhors
L'omicida, e scritto sta
The murderer, and it is written
Chi di ferro altrui ferisce
Whoever wounds others with iron
Pur di ferro perirà
Will perish by iron
Ravenswood in queste porte
Ravenswood in these doors
Chi ti guida?
Who guides you?
La mia sorte
My fate
Il mio dritto sì Lucia
My right, yes Lucia
La sua fede a me giurò
Her faith she swore to me
Questo amor per sempre obblia
This love forever forgets
Ella è d' altri
She is of another
D'altri ah no
Of another, oh no
Mira
Look
Tremi ti confondi
You tremble, you confuse
Son tue cifre?
Are they your figures?
A me rispondi
Answer me
Son tue cifre?
Are they your figures?
Si
Yes
Riprendi
Take it again
Il tuo pegno, infido cor
Your pledge, faithless heart
Il mio dammi
Give me mine
Almen
At least
Lo rendi
Return it
Hai tradito il crelo, e amor
You betrayed heaven and love
Maledetto sia l'instante
Cursed be the moment
Ohe di te mi rese amante
That made me love you
Stirpe iniqua abbominata
Accursed wicked lineage
Io dovea da te fuggir
I should have fled from you
Ah di Dio la mano irata
Ah, the angry hand of God
Ti disperda
May it scatter you
Lyrics © PUBLIC DOMAIN
Written by: Gaetano Donizetti, Salvatore Cammarano, Walter Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind