Rondine al nido

"Rondine al nido"
(Swallow's Nest)
Song
Written ca. 1920
Form Romance
Composer Vincenzo de Crescenzo
Lyricist L. Sica
Language Italian
Recorded by

 

  • Beniamino Gigli
  • Luciano Pavarotti
Performed by

 

  • Enrico Caruso
  • Giuseppe Di Stefano
  • Richard Tucker
  • Luciano Pavarotti
  • Francesco Albanese

Rondine al nido is a romance and one of the best known works of the Italian composer Vincenzo de Crescenzo, whose music was in the repertoire of Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Richard Tucker, Luciano Pavarotti, Luigi Infantino, Ramón Vargas, Robert Dean Smith, Francesco Albanese, among many others.

Written by de Crescenzo in the early 20th century (circa 1920),[1] it deals with lost love. While written and performed as a Neapolitan song, but with lyrics in Italian, it is more like an aria of the late Romantic period, demanding of the singer high intensity, high notes, and excellent breath control.[1] It begins calmly and lightly, and then it becomes a passionate outburst.[1] The second stanza repeats this scheme.[1]

The song was sung by tenor Agostino Castagnola as The Doctor (EMH) portrayed by Robert Picardo in the 13th episode, Virtuoso, of the sixth season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. The episode was first aired on 26 January 2000 in the United States.[2] The song is performed in Las Vegas at the Bellagio's fountain, which dances to Luciano Pavarotti's version of the song.[3][4]

Libretto

Every performer interprets the song in his own way and there have been several changes from version to version. The following version is from the booklet of the 1990 album, Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert.

Italian

I
Sotto la gronda de la torre antica
Una rondine amica,
Allo sbocciare del mandorlo è tornata.
Ritorna tutti gli anni,
Sempre alla stessa data,
Monti e mare essa varca
   per tornar.
Solo amore
Quando fugge e va lontano
Speri invano
ma non torna più,
Speri invano
Ma non torna più.

II
Ne la penombra dolce della sera
Passa la primavera.
Cinguettano le rondini nel volo,
Ebbre di luce e d'aria.
Ed io son triste e solo;
Monti e mare tu non varchi
   per tornar.
Mia piccina,
Fosti tutta la mia vita;
Sei fuggita
E non torni più.
Sei fuggita
E non torni più.

Translation in English

I
Under the eaves of the old tower,
as the almond tree blossoms,
a friendly swallow has returned.
Every year she returns,
always in the same day.
She crosses mountains and sea
   to get back here.
Only love flees
and does not return.
It makes you hope in vain,
but it does not return.
It makes you hope in vain,
but it does not return.

II
In the soft twilight of evening
springtime is passing.
The swallows chatter in their flight —
they are drunk with light and air.
But I am sad and lonely.
You do not cross mountains and sea
   to come back to me.
My little one,
You were my whole life,
but you ran away,
never to return.
You ran away,
never to return!

Selected recordings

The following is a selection of recordings that includes "Rondine al nido" sung by some of its most famous interpreters. Recordings are listed in chronological order by year.

Year Album
1984 Mamma
  • Performers: Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Andrea Griminelli (flute) and Henry Mancini (piano)
  • Conductor and Ensemble: Henry Mancini and his Chorus and Orchestra
  • Released: 1984; 13 November 2007 (reissue)
  • Recorded: 17–21, 29 January 1984 Gran Casino, Noga Hilton, Geneva
  • Label: London / Decca
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 12.[5][6]
1990 O Sole Mio
Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert
Luciano Pavarotti in Concert
  • Performers: Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) and Andrea Griminelli (flute)
  • Conductor: Emerson Buckley
  • Ensemble: Emilia Romagna Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra
  • Released: 25 October 1990
  • Recorded: 14 August 1985 Piazza Grande, Modena, Italy
  • Label: CBS
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 7.[8]
1991 Gigli in Song
  • Performer: Beniamino Gigli
  • Released: 9 January 1991
  • Label: Pearl
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 16.[9]
1993 Pavarotti in Central Park
1994 Celebri melodie italiane
  • Performers: Gino Bechi
  • Released: 27 September 1994
  • Label: RCA
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 14.[11]
1998 Momenti del 900
  • Performers: Simone Alaimo
  • Released: 1 November 1998
  • Label: Agora Musica
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 5.[12]
2000 Star Trek: Voyager – Virtuoso
  • Released: 2000; 26 January 2000
  • Recorded: January 2000
  • Label: Virtuoso
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features in UPN's Star Trek: Voyager episode "Virtuoso", with voice over by tenor Agostino Castagnola as EMH (The Doctor) portrayed by Robert Picardo. "[2][13]
2001 Neapolitan Café
2002 Das Ist Dein Tag
  • Performers: German Tenors
  • Released: 21 June 2002
  • Label: Koch Records
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 6.[15]
2005 Favourite Flavors
  • Performers: Peter De Sotto (tenor), Cynthia Steljes (oboe), Joseph Macerollo (accordion) and George Meanwell (cello)
  • Ensemble: Quartetto Gelato
  • Released: 8 November 2005
  • Label: Koch
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 7 arranged by Shelly Berger.[16]
2007 Ready for More
  • Performers: Michael Amante
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Agora Musica
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 11.[17]
2007 My Love Songs, Forever
  • Performers: Palmerio Piras
  • Released: 30 May 2007
  • Label: Three Monkeys Music
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 2.[18]
2010 Romanze dell'800
  • Performers: Claudio Villa
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Fonit Cetra WMI
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 10.[19]
2011 A Napoli
  • Performers: Marc Hervieux
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: ATMA Classique
    •
  • Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 7.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Feeney, Ann. "Rondine al nido for voice & orchestra" (DLL). Overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  2. 1 2 "Robert Picardo speaks". BEHIND-THE-SCENES. Janet's Star Trek Voyager Site. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  3. ↑ Gold, Scott (2004-10-10). "Shops Feel Fountains Go With the Vegas Territory". Articles > National. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  4. ↑ "Bellagio Fountains - Las Vegas". MGM Resorts International.
  5. 1 2 3 "DISCOGRAPHY" (PHP). Pavarotti Forever. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  6. ↑ "Mamma / Henry Mancini, Luciano Pavarotti CD" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  7. ↑ "Beniamino Gigli - O Sole Mio CD Import" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Pavarotti / Symphonic Orchestra Of Romagna Luciano Pavarotti In Concert CD" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  9. ↑ "Beniamino Gigli Gigli In Song CD" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  10. ↑ "Pavarotti / Magiera / NYP Pavarotti In Central Park / Magiera, New York Philharmonic CD" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  11. ↑ "Celebri Melodie Italiane - Gino Bechi". AllMusic.
  12. ↑ "Momenti del 900 - Simone Alaimo". AllMusic.
  13. ↑ "Star Trek: Voyager" Virtuoso (2000) at the Internet Movie Database
  14. ↑ "Neapolitan Café / Quartetto Gelato CD" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  15. ↑ "Das Ist Dein Tag - German Tenors". AllMusic.
  16. ↑ "Favourite Flavors / Quartetto Gelato CD" (ASP). CD Universe. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  17. ↑ "Ready for More - Michael Amante". AllMusic.
  18. ↑ "My Love Songs, Forever - Palmerio Piras". AllMusic.
  19. ↑ "Romanze Dell'800 - Claudio Villa". AllMusic.
  20. ↑ "A Napoli - Marc Hervieux". AllMusic.
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