Sara Macliver is an Australian soprano singer, born and raised in Perth, We… Read Full Bio ↴Sara Macliver is an Australian soprano singer, born and raised in Perth, Western Australia.

Sara is one of Australia’s most popular and versatile artists, appearing in operas, concert and recital performances and on numerous recordings. She is regarded as one of the leading exponents of Baroque repertoire in Australia.

She trained in Perth, where she was a pupil of Molly McGurk and was a Young Artist with the West Australian Opera Company. Her roles for the company have included Micaela (Carmen), Papagena (The Magic Flute), Giannetta (L'elisir d'amore), Morgana (Alcina), Ida (Die Fledermaus), Nannetta (Falstaff) and Vespetta (Pimpinone). In 2007, she created the roles of Echo/Aphrodite in Richard Mills' opera The Love of the Nightingale. She will sing the role of Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) with the company in 2009.

Sara Macliver regularly performs with Symphony Australia Orchestras, Musica Viva, Melbourne Chorale, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australia Bach Ensemble and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. She has a particular association with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, with whom she recorded her first CD If Love’s a Sweet Passion, which was a finalist for the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Award for Best Classical Release in 2000.

Chiome d'oro
Sara Macliver Lyrics

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Chiome d'oro, bel tesoro
Tu mi leghi in mille modi
Se t'annodi, se ti snodi

Candidette perle elette
Se le rose che scoprite
Discoprite, mi ferite

Vive stelle, che sì belle
E sì vaghe risplendete
Se ridete m'ancidete
Se ridete m'ancidete
Se ridete m'ancidete

Preziose, amorose
Coralline labbra amate
Se parlate mi beate

O bel nodo per cui godo
O soave uscir di vita
O gradita mia ferita

O gradita mia ferita
O gradita mia ferita

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chiome D'oro by Sara Macliver & Sally-Anne Russell are rich with imagery and poetic language, evoking themes of beauty, love, and the complexities of human emotions. The song opens with the lines "Chiome d'oro, bel tesoro / Tu mi leghi in mille modi / Se t'annodi, se ti snodi," which can be translated to "Golden tresses, beautiful treasure / You bind me in a thousand ways / If you knot yourself, if you unravel." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the binding and unraveling nature of love, how it can both ensnare and liberate the singer.

The imagery continues with references to "Candidette perle elette / Se le rose che scoprite / Discoprite, mi ferite," which speaks of delicate pearls and roses that, when uncovered or discovered, can cause pain. This could symbolize the bittersweet nature of beauty and love, how they can bring joy and pleasure but also carry the potential for heartache and vulnerability.

The mention of "Vive stelle, che sì belle / E sì vaghe risplendete / Se ridete m'ancidete" invokes the image of shimmering stars that, if they laugh, can "kill" the singer. This juxtaposition of beauty and danger highlights the power and impact of light and laughter, how something seemingly benign can have a profound effect.

The final verses of the song express a mix of longing, pleasure, and pain, with references to "Preziose, amorose / Coralline labbra amate / Se parlate mi beate" and "O bel nodo per cui godo / O soave uscir di vita / O gradita mia ferita." These lines speak of precious and loving words that bring joy, as well as the sweet release and cherished wounds of love. The intricate weaving of emotions and sensations captured in the lyrics of Chiome D'oro creates a vivid and evocative portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the profound impact of love.

Line by Line Meaning

Chiome d'oro, bel tesoro
Locks of golden hair, my beautiful treasure

Tu mi leghi in mille modi
You bind me in countless ways

Se t'annodi, se ti snodi
Whether you are tied or untied

Candidette perle elette
White pearls, chosen and pure

Se le rose che scoprite
If the roses that you reveal

Discoprite, mi ferite
As you unveil, you wound me

Vive stelle, che sì belle
Living stars, so beautiful

E sì vaghe risplendete
And so charmingly you shine

Se ridete m'ancidete
If you laugh, you slay me

Preziose, amorose
Precious, full of love

Coralline labbra amate
Coral-like lips that I adore