- E lucevan le stelle
" E lucevan le stelle" is the
romanza of Mario Cavaradossi in the 3rd act of "Tosca ", the opera composed byGiacomo Puccini to an Italianlibretto byLuigi Illica andGiuseppe Giacosa . It is sung by Tosca's lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi (tenor ), while waiting for his coming execution.Written in
B minor , is one of the most famous opera arias.The aria is introduced by a somber
clarinet solo. Theincipit of themelody (heard in outline earlier in the Act, as the sky lightens and the gaoler prepares for the execution) is repeated on the lines "O dolci baci, o languide carezze", and also restated forte in the closing bars of the opera, as Tosca jumps from the ramparts.Libretto
Plagiarism suit
In 1920, the stage performer
Al Jolson , together withBuddy de Sylva andVincent Rose , wrote a popular song, "Avalon", about the town of the same name onSanta Catalina island. The following year, G. Ricordi, the publisher of Puccini's operas, sued all parties associated with the song, arguing that the melody was lifted from "E lucevan le stelle". Puccini and his publisher prevailed in the case and were awarded $25,000 in damages and all future royalties for the song.References
* [http://www.aria-database.com/cgi-bin/aria-search.pl?305a The Aria Database]
Further reading
*Detailed musical analysis of the aria can be found in
Mosco Carner , [http://books.google.com/books?id=E0d0Ec7Wf5cC&pg=PA103&dq=lucevan+le+stelle&lr=&sig=ABaIJvZHcntHQXPDh1-kMFiKEYs#PPA101,M1 "Giacomo Puccini, Tosca"] , Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp. 101-104 (ISBN 0521296617) and inJulian Budden [http://books.google.com/books?id=_acNXIssM5wC&pg=PA219&dq=Budden+Puccini+aria+lucevan&sig=_3YkV4dncQz4TQeqHrvHGm9SJks#PPA219,M1 "Puccini: His Life and Works"] , Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 218-219 (ISBN 0195179749).
*The text for the original version of the aria which Puccini later shortened for subsequent editions of the libretto can be found in Susan VanDiver Nicassio, [http://books.google.com/books?id=poDHquurm24C&pg=PA307&dq=lucevan+le+stelle&lr=&sig=F-ZIhj9mKzVxkQNq9bEtRtcJmm8#PPA307,M1 "Tosca's Rome: The Play and the Opera in Historical Perspective"] , University of Chicago Press, 2002, p. 307. ISBN 0226579719
*An analysis of the theme of female unveiling in this aria and other operas of the time can be found in Jeremy Tambling, [http://books.google.com/books?id=x_bduDoXrCAC&pg=PA122&dq=lucevan+le+stelle&lr=&sig=zQdLyy_0CRAioOQesbiMA_9i8Js#PPA122,M1 "Opera and the Culture of Fascism"] , Oxford University Press, 1996 p. 122. ISBN 0198165668External links
* [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bhr8215/large/sco30286.html#286 Score of 'E lucevan le stelle' for piano and voice] with the original text and an English translation by W. Beattie-Kingston. (William and Gayle Cook Music Library, Indiana University School of Music)
* [http://voixhaute.vodpod.com/video/788965-alfredo-kraus-canta-tosca Recording of the aria] byAlfredo Kraus
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