Formed in Veneto in 1973 around the nucleus of soprano Donella Del Monaco (the niece of famous tenor Mario Del Monaco), pianist-composer Alfredo Tisocco, philosopher Giorgio Bisotto and producer Renato Marengo, and aided in the years by many other musicians, the group released their first album in 1974, Opus Avantra - Donella Del Monaco (often referred to as Introspezione, from the title of the first track) on the collectible Trident label.
Usually considered their most accessible work, the album is built on classical-inspired themes with complex arrangements and dominated by the nice soprano voice of singer Del Monaco and good flute playing, with just an instrumental track, Rituale. The band also had a good live activity promoting their album in Veneto and Rome.
Donella Del Monaco was absent on the second album Lord Cromwell (plays suite for seven vices), that follows in the same style as the previous work, being replaced by an American chorus. Former Nuova Idea drummer Paolo Siani played on this album, that like the first one contains some interesting passages for the adventurous listeners.
Both Alfredo Tisocco (along with Gruppo Italiano di Danza Libera in 1975's Katharsis) and Donella Del Monaco (with 12 canzoni da battello in 1977 and Schoenberg Kabarett in 1978) also released individual albums in the same vein, and the duo reunited under the name Opus Avantra for a third album in 1989, Strata, and a CD-only fourth release in 1995, Lyrics.
2008 saw the reunion of Opus Avantra with Donella Del Monaco, Alfredo Tisocco and Giorgio Bisotto, for concerts in Romania and Japan, based on material from all their albums. The line-up also features Valerio Galla (drumes and percussion), Mauro Martello (flute), Anca Elena Botezatu (violin), Ioana Ionescu (violin), Alexandra Butnaru (viola), Violeta Loredana Dumitru (cello), and the show was directly produced by the reborn Cramps, with lights, sound and scenes made by Alan Walter Bedin.
The Tokyo concert was used for the DVD Viaggio immaginario/Live in Tokyo 2008.
Lust
Opus Avantra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I do not count anymore
I am the only passion
of men in love
I live so much without dresses and gauns
It hurts... but it's fun
each pose delights me...
To excite oneself is pleasing
at time, ... I am so light
but I did it more
in the minds of my virgin friends,
they are reach in great desires
but they steal their torments
so to not face those servants of deceptions...
You are doing wrong
They would say... you'll become a bitch
go... go and run
but bring us
some of your joys
We will divide in equal parts
I assure you
we will make the body
sky and water in the mind...
My, my tongue... is already white,
My, my tongue... is already white...
(give me some of your pleasure).
The lyrics of Opus Avantra's song Lust depict the internal monologue of a woman who takes pleasure in indulging in her own sexual desires. She acknowledges that society might consider her crazy, but she no longer cares about societal norms or judgments. This attitude is evident in her declaration that she does not count anymore. She feels that men in love are so passionate that they don't even notice her, but she is content being the only passion in her own life.
She describes how she derives pleasure from posing without dresses and gowns and how it hurts, but it's fun. She does not shy away from acknowledging that she is excited by herself and it is pleasing to her. The woman also reveals that she enjoys discussing her desires with her virgin friends, although they are often consumed by their own torments and are unable to confront societal norms. She is aware that society perceives her behavior as wrong and warns her friends that they might be labeled as "bitches" if they indulge in their own desires.
The woman's innermost thoughts form the crux of the song, and the lyrics are introspective, raw, and daring. The song provides a glimpse into the mind of a woman who is aware of her sexuality and is not ashamed of it. It is an empowering song for women who want to embrace their desires and break free from societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Really, you are crazy (in this world)
You don't fit into the conventions of this world
I do not count anymore
I am no longer concerned with societal norms
I am the only passion of men in love
I am the desire of men in love
I live so much without dresses and gauns
I enjoy living without the constraints of clothing
It hurts... but it's fun
There is pleasure in pain
each pose delights me...
Every position brings me pleasure
To excite oneself is pleasing so very much... very much
Self-stimulation is incredibly satisfying
at time, ... I am so light but I did it more in the minds of my virgin friends, they are reach in great desires but they steal their torments so to not face those servants of deceptions...
Sometimes I feel uninhibited, but I mostly explore these desires in the minds of my inexperienced friends who secretly desire the same things, but remain repressed due to societal pressures
You are doing wrong
Others judge me for my actions
They would say... you'll become a bitch go... go and run but bring us some of your joys
They criticize and stigmatize me, yet still desire to partake in my pleasures
We will divide in equal parts I assure you we will make the body sky and water in the mind...
We will share in the pleasure and achieve a state of pure ecstasy
My, my tongue... is already white, My, my tongue... is already white...(give me some of your pleasure).
I am already experiencing pleasure and want to share it with others
Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.