Tullio Serafin was a leading Italian opera conductor with a long career and a very broad repertoire who revived many 19th century bel canto operas by Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti to become staples of 20th century repertoire. He had an unparalleled reputation as a coach of young opera singers and famously channelled Maria Callas's temperamental talents.
Born in Rottanova (Cavarzere), near Venice, and trained in Milan, he played viola in the Orchestra of La Scala, Milan under Toscanini, later being appointed Assistant Conductor. He took over as Musical Director at La Scala when Toscanini left to go to New York and served 1909-1914, 1917–1918 and returned briefly after the second World War, 1946 -1947.
He joined the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera in 1924 and remained for a decade, after which he became the artistic director of the Teatro Reale in Rome. During his long career he helped further the careers of many important singers, including Rosa Ponselle and Joan Sutherland, and Maria Callas with whom he made numerous recordings.
Serafin was instrumental in expanding the repertory, conducting the Italian premieres of works by Alban Berg, Paul Dukas, and Benjamin Britten. He also conducted important world premieres by both Italian and American composers such as Franco Alfano, Italo Montemezzi, Deems Taylor, and Howard Hanson.
He died in Rome in 1968.
Casta Diva
Tullio Serafin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Queste sacre antiche piante
A noi volgi il bel sembiante
Senza nube e senza vel
Tempra, o Diva
Tempra tu de cori ardenti
Tempra ancora lo zelo audace
Spargi in terra quella pace
Fine al rito, e il sacro bosco
Sia disgombro dai profani
Quando il Nume irato e fosco
Chiegga il sangue dei Romani
Dal Druidico delubro
La mia voce tuoner
Cadr punirlo io posso
Ma, punirlo, il cor non sa
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Del fido amor primiero
E contro il mondo intiero
Difesa a te sar
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Del raggio tuo sereno
E vita nel tuo seno
E patria e cielo avr
Ah, riedi ancora qual eri allora
Quando il cor ti diedi allora
Ah, riedi a me
The song 'Casta Diva' is an aria from the opera 'Norma' by Vincenzo Bellini, performed in 1831. The song is sung by Norma, a high priestess in Gaul, who prays to the goddess of the moon, Casta Diva to bring peace to their land. In the first stanza, Norma addresses Casta Diva, asking her to appear before them with her beautiful countenance, without any cloud or veil. She invokes the goddess to temper the burning passions of the people and spread the tranquility that Casta Diva creates in the heavens. The lyrics convey Norma's deep reverence and devotion towards the goddess, who she believes is the only one who can calm the spirits of the people.
In the second stanza, Norma pleads with the goddess to listen to her prayers and take action on behalf of the people. She wishes the sacred forest to be cleared of profanities after the ritual is over. When the vengeful god asks for the blood of Romans, Norma will thunder from the Druidic temple, and she can punish him. But, even though she can punish him, her heart cannot bear it. She longs to be reunited with her true love and stand up against the whole world to protect him. She appeals to the goddess to return to her as it was before when she gave her heart to her. The lyrics portray the strong emotions of Norma and her beliefs in the power of the goddess Casta Diva.
Line by Line Meaning
Casta Diva, che inargenti
O chaste goddess, whose radiance illuminates
Queste sacre antiche piante
These ancient sacred trees
A noi volgi il bel sembiante
Turn your beautiful face to us
Senza nube e senza vel
Without cloud and without veil
Tempra, o Diva
Temper, oh goddess
Tempra tu de cori ardenti
Temper the fiery hearts
Tempra ancora lo zelo audace
Temper the audacious zeal
Spargi in terra quella pace
Spread on the earth that peace
Che regnar tu fai nel ciel
Which you reign in heaven
Fine al rito, e il sacro bosco
End the ritual, and the sacred grove
Sia disgombro dai profani
Let it be free from the profane
Quando il Nume irato e fosco
When the angry and dark deity
Chiegga il sangue dei Romani
Asks for the blood of the Romans
Dal Druidico delubro
From the druidic temple
La mia voce tuoner
My voice will thunder
Cadr punirlo io posso
I can punish him to fall
Ma, punirlo, il cor non sa
But, punish him, the heart does not know how
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Ah! Beautiful, return to me
Del fido amor primiero
Of the faithful first love
E contro il mondo intiero
And against the whole world
Difesa a te sar
I'll be a defense for you
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Ah! Beautiful, return to me
Del raggio tuo sereno
Of your serene radiance
E vita nel tuo seno
And life in your bosom
E patria e cielo avr
And will have a homeland and heaven
Ah, riedi ancora qual eri allora
Ah, return once again as you were then
Quando il cor ti diedi allora
When I gave you my heart then
Ah, riedi a me
Ah, return to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Vicenzo Bellini, George Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eitanjakoubovitch3440
Unbelievable. This concert was in 1958, 66 years ago and still, no other singer sings like Maria.
Who's listening in 2024??
@mo1240
Kiri TeKanawa is amazing too
@gertweber157
me!
@colinjoseph2706
Me taff, listened to this great woman for years.
@mrc19591
And me
@iValkure
@@mo1240 Kiri ?! I don't think she ever attempted Norma though.... Not for her voice.
@Ahmaddakheel
Am I alone here in 2024 ?
@felixmintaka504
no
@mariamagdziarz4731
No ❤
@grmm91
No