Denza was born at Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples. He studied music under Saverio Mercadante and Paolo Serrao at the Naples Conservatory. Later, he moved to London and became a professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music in 1898. Denza wrote an opera, Wallenstein, and hundreds of songs. The most popular of these was a collaboration with Peppino Turco, the Neapolitan song Funiculì, Funiculà, about the Vesuvius funicular.[1] . Other songs such as "Luna fedel", "Occhi di fata", and "Se" have been sung by Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti, Carlo Bergonzi, Enrico Caruso and Rona Tynan.
Six years after Funiculì, Funiculà was composed, German composer Richard Strauss heard the song while on a tour of Italy. Thinking that it was a traditional Italian folk song, he later incorporated it into his Aus Italien symphony. To his great embarrassment, Strauss realised his mistake when an angry Denza filed a lawsuit against him. Denza won the lawsuit, and Strauss was forced to pay him a royalty fee every time the Aus Italien was performed in public.
Luigi Denza died in 1922 in London.
Occhi di Fata
Luigi Denza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
o begl'occhi stranissimi e profondi...
Voi m'avete rubata
la pace della prima giovent.
Bella signora dai capelli biondi
per la mia giovinezza che v'ho data
mi darete di piu.
O s, voi mi darete dei vostri baci
la febbre e l'ardore!
Trepidante sarete
tra le mie bracie aperte...
tra le mie bracie aperte
e sul mio cor.
Della mia giovent prendete il fiore.
Del mio giovine sangue l'ardore prendete.
Ma datemi l'amor,
ma datemi l'amor!
The song "Occhi di Fata" by Luigi Denza is about the overwhelming power of love and how it can take control of a person's life. The first verse is addressed to the beautiful and mysterious woman with fairy-like eyes who has stolen the peace and tranquility of the singer's youth. He implores her to give him more of her love in exchange for the gift of his youth, and promises to cherish and protect her with all the fervor he can muster.
In the second verse, he expresses his desire for her passionately and claims that he will be enraptured by her in his open arms and over his heart. The singer willingly surrenders the flower of his youth and the ardor of his young blood to her but only asks for love in return.
Overall, the song is a poetic expression of the consuming power of love and its ability to transform and shape a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
O begl'occhi di fata,
Oh beautiful fairy eyes,
o begl'occhi stranissimi e profondi...
Oh beautiful and deep strange eyes...
Voi m'avete rubata
You have stolen from me
la pace della prima giovent.
The peace of my first youth.
Bella signora dai capelli biondi
Beautiful lady with blonde hair,
per la mia giovinezza che v'ho data
For the youth that I've given you,
mi darete di piu.
You will give me more.
O s, voi mi darete dei vostri baci
Oh yes, you will give me your kisses,
la febbre e l'ardore!
The fever and the passion!
Trepidante sarete
You will be trembling
tra le mie bracie aperte...
In my open arms...
tra le mie bracie aperte
In my open arms,
e sul mio cor.
And on my heart.
Della mia giovent prendete il fiore.
Take the flower of my youth.
Del mio giovine sangue l'ardore prendete.
Take the passion of my youthful blood.
Ma datemi l'amor,
But give me love,
ma datemi l'amor!
But give me love!
Contributed by Zachary H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@emtnz1569
O begl'occhi di fata,
o begl'occhi stranissimi e profondi...
Voi m'avete rubata
la pace della prima gioventù.
Bella signora dai capelli biondi
per la mia giovinezza che v'ho data
mi darete di più.
O sì, voi mi darete dei vostri baci
la febbre e l'ardore!
Trepidante sarete
tra le mie bracie aperte...
tra le mie bracie aperte
e sul mio cor.
Della mia gioventù prendete il fiore.
Del mio giovine sangue l'ardore prendete.
Ma datemi l'amor,
ma datemi l'amor!
@annamariapensa5169
È semplicemente una meraviglia e per me un ricordo immenso e dolce. Avevo 20 anni e, ho raggiunto le.nozze d'oro anche con questa musica!
@deadpoet50
I agree. This is probably the best from this recital. And the sound is impeccable. Thanks you for allowing us to see and listen to this great concert of our beloved Maestro Pavarotti.
@pegchandler2527
I received this recital on dvd for Christmas. WOW! This selection and "Nebbie" were magnificent. Not that the rest weren't wonderful too. What a voice and interpretation! Thanks for sharing. I've listened over and over.
@callastoujours
BRAVISSIMO MAESTRO!!!!! You'll be always in our hearts. Thanks for posting.
@semitar6
The most beautiful rendition of this song I've ever heard...
@pegchandler2527
Piano and voice...what more does one need? Exquisite!
@yolandasanchez2836
espléndido Luciano, bravísimooooo
@annamariapensa5169
Mi ricorda tanto ma tanto mio marito, con cui ho vissuto 52 anni. Ora non c'è più!
@CraigFrancisSoto
Che bella canzone! I once heard it sung beautifully by the great baritone Gino Bechi at a concert and never forgot it. A truly beautiful song and I just love the piano passages. Bravo Maestro! Riposa in pace.
@marialuciadeoliveiracastro8277
Perfeito. Gratidao!!! Teria com Gino becchi? PARABENS YOU TUBE.