Mascagni's 1890 masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana, caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and singlehandedly ushered in the Verismo movement. Though it has been stated and restated ad nauseam that Mascagni, like Leoncavallo, was a "one-opera man" who could never repeat his first success, this is highly inaccurate: L'Amico Fritz and Iris have been popular in Europe since their respective premieres; in fact, Mascagni himself claimed that at one point Iris was performed in Italy more often than Cavalleria (cf. Stivender).
Mascagni wrote a total of fifteen operas, plus an operetta, several beautiful orchestral and vocal works, as well as songs and piano music. He enjoyed amazing success during his lifetime, both as a composer and conductor. If he never repeated the public success of Cavalleria, it was probably because Mascagni refused to copy himself. The variety of styles in Mascagni's operas -- the Sicilian passion and warmth of Cavalleria, the Asian flavor of Iris, the idyllic breeze that ventilates L'Amico Fritz, the French hues in Isabeau, the steely, Verismo quality of Il Piccolo Marat -- demonstrate a versatility that none of the other Veristi could boast, Puccini included.
Serenata
Pietro Mascagni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Così tu adagi la persona stanca sotto le coltri molli e ricamate.
La testa bionda sul guancial riposa lieta de' sogni suoi color di
Rosa e tra le larve care al tuo
Sorriso una ne passa che ti sfiora il viso.
Passa e ti dice che bruciar le vene,
Che sanguinare il cor per te mi sento.
Passa e ti dice che ti voglio bene,
Bianca tra un nimbo di capelli biondi
Lieta sorridi ai sogni tuoi giocondi.
Ah, non destarti, o fior del Paradiso,
Ch'io vengo in sogno per baciarti in viso!
The lyrics to Pietro Mascagni's song Serenata evoke a sense of peace and comfort as the singer describes a lover peacefully sleeping under a soft and embroidered comforter. The imagery of doves sleeping with their heads tucked under their wings is used to compare the lover to a dove, implying a gentle and innocent nature. The lover's blonde head rests happily upon a fluffy pillow as their dreams are painted with the colors of roses. As the lover sleeps, the singer proclaims their love and devotion, mentioning that for this love they would go to the extreme measures of burning their veins or bleeding their heart. A passing dream brushes against the lover's cheek, revealing a message of love and desire. The singer ends the song by pleading with the sleeping lover, urging them not to awaken and to stay in their dreamlike state, as the singer dreams of kissing their beloved's face.
The lyrics of Serenata are rich in romantic imagery and emotions, centering on the theme of passionate love. The symbol of the dove is used several times throughout the song; the image of a dove sleeping under its wing is used to convey the image of a peaceful and innocent love, while the passing dream mentioned towards the end of the song is also likened to a dove that brushes against the lover's face. The color imagery is also prominent, with the imagery of the lover's dreams painted with the colors of roses. The singer's proclamation of love and devotion takes on a somewhat dramatic tone, with extreme measures of burning veins and bleeding hearts mentioned as expressions of their love. The song finishes with the singer yearning for a intimate moment with their lover, even if it's just a dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Come col capo sotto l'ala bianca dormon le palombelle innamorate,
Just as the love-struck doves sleep under the shelter of their white wings,
Così tu adagi la persona stanca sotto le coltri molli e ricamate.
You too lie down, tired, under the soft and embroidered covers.
La testa bionda sul guancial riposa lieta de' sogni suoi color di Rosa
Your blonde head rests peacefully on the pillow, full of dreams in shades of pink,
e tra le larve care al tuo Sorriso una ne passa che ti sfiora il viso.
And among the dear memories, a faint one passes by your smiling face, caressing it.
Passa e ti dice che bruciar le vene,
It passes by and tells you that it would burn its veins
Che sanguinare il cor per te mi sento.
And bleed its heart for you.
Passa e ti dice che ti voglio bene,
It passes by and tells you that it loves you,
Che sei la mia dolcezza e il mio tormento.
That you are its sweet and tormenting love.
Bianca tra un nimbo di capelli biondi Lieta sorridi ai sogni tuoi giocondi.
You, white among a cloud of blonde hair, smile happily at your joyous dreams.
Ah, non destarti, o fior del Paradiso, Ch'io vengo in sogno per baciarti in viso!
Oh, don't wake up, flower of Paradise, for I come in a dream to kiss your face!
Writer(s): Mascagni, Stecchetti
Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ForXXLp
Come col capo sotto l'ala bianca
dormon le palombelle innamorate,
Così tu adagi la persona stanca
sotto le coltri molli e ricamate.
La testa bionda sul guancial riposa
lieta de' sogni suoi color di rosa
e tra le larve care al tuo sorriso
una ne passa che ti sfiora il viso.
Passa e ti dice che bruciar le vene,
che sanguinare il cor per te mi sento.
Passa e ti dice che ti voglio bene,
che sei la mia dolcezza e il mio tormento.
Bianca tra un nimbo di capelli biondi
lieta sorridi ai sogni tuoi giocondi.
Ah, non destarti, o fior del Paradiso,
ch'io vengo in sogno per baciarti in viso!
@Mr33Arcadian
Amorous doves sleep
heads buried in their white wings.
You are like that, easing your tiredness
under the embroidered quilt.
Your blond head rests on the pillow;
Enjoying rose-coloured dreams.
As you smile, a passing fairy
brushes your face.
It passes, and tells you my blood is burning in my veins,
And my heart bleeds for you.
As it passes, it tells you that I love you,
That you are my sweetness and my torment.
White, in a cloud of blond hair,
Ah, don't wake up, my flower of paradise,
because I am coming
to kiss you in your dreams.
@salvinasantoro5208
Noi italiani siamo fortunati,abbiamo avuto i.migliori fra cantanti lirici e musicisti,.
@Caruso_is_king
His diction, the line, the emotion …..pure Pavarotti 😊
@safetehysaj1670
Meraviglioso.... Mi fa emozionare,grandissimo Pavaroti
@rossanalicciardi2703
Unico!! Meraviglioso, Lucianone!👏👏❤
@margcarter3758
2019 I listen to him every day !
@ellenlyons7413
I do also, its not a good day unless you hear this voice.
@SuperAleaiactaest
Hands down one of my favorite songs ever.
@micheledibella7335
SuperAleaiactaest Non penso che ci sarà unaltro PAVAROTTI.
@vitocaruso979
formidabile, insuperabile. Fa accapponare la pelle.
@Ginotti
This is the gem of the recital. One of most beautiful things he did in those routine-like years.