Mattinata (Leoncavallo)

NOTE: There are actually three (3) songs called "Mattinata," each set to its own words. This article details the second song. The three are:

• Mattinata

first line - "Mary, tremando"
words - anonymous
music - Tosti
date - 1897

• Mattinata

first line - "L'Aurora, di bianco vestita"
words - Leoncavallo
music - Leoncavallo
date - 1904

• Mattinata

first line - "Spandono le campane"
words - d'Annunzio
music - Respighi
date - 1909

Leoncavallo's Mattinata

Mattinata (English: Morning) was the first song ever written expressly for the Gramophone Company (the present day HMV). Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo in 1904, this song was dedicated to Enrico Caruso, who was the first to record it in 1904 with the composer at the piano. Ever since, this piece has become a concert favourite. More than a half-century later this song was recorded by Italian-born tenor Sergio Franchi on his American-debut album, Romantic Italian Songs, (RCA Victor Red Seal, 1962).^[1] In only three months, Franchi's album of mostly Neapolitan favorites songs placed number seventeen on the Billboard Top 200.^[2] Thirty-six years later (eight years after Franchi's death) the same album placed number one hundred sixty-seven on the Billboard 200.^[3]

Libretto

Italian

L'aurora di bianco vestita
Già l'uscio dischiude al gran sol;
Di già con le rosee sue dita
Carezza de' fiori lo stuol!
Commosso da un fremito arcano
Intorno il creato già par;
E tu non ti desti, ed invano
Mi sto qui dolente a cantar.

Metti anche tu la veste bianca
E schiudi l'uscio al tuo cantor!
Ove non sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l'amor.

Ove non sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l'amor.

Recordings (Youtube)

1. Giuseppe di Stefano
2. Jussi Björling
3. Enrico Caruso
4. Beniamino Gigli
5. Mario Lanza
6. Alfredo Kraus
7. Luciano Pavarotti
8. José Carreras
9. Andrea Bocelli
10. Joan Sutherland

Scores

• IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library

References

1. ^ http://www.discogs.com Sergio Franchi
2. ^ http://www.allrovi.com Sergio Franchi
3. ^ http://www.allrovi.com Sergio Franchi