Aria della Piovra (Un dì ero piccina)

by Maria Farneti

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about

composer: Pietro Mascagni
libretto: Luigi Illica
recorded in 1931, remastered in 2023
(P) 2023 Irene Disques / Kutmusic

lyrics

Un dì, ero piccina,
al tempio vidi un bonzo
a un paravento
tutto fatto a simboli,
sciorinare il velame
d'un mistero...
Era una plaga
d'un gran mare morto
color del bronzo;
e v'era un cielo
rosso sì come sangue,
d'un rosso livido;
e una gran spiaggia,
una gran spiaggia morta
di grigio e nero...
Una fanciulla giacèavi adagiata,
scarne le membra,
sparsi i capelli
e nella bocca un riso
ch'era uno spasimo...
Su dal mar morto
una gran piovra intanto
il capo ergeva...
E la fanciulla col grande
occhio falcato fuor guatava;
questa, domata a quel terror
di sguardo,
tutta affisava!
Su dal mar morto
I viscidi tentacoli
IRIS
Son of the Sun!
OSAKA
(strident laugh; Iris seems frightened)
Ah, little girl, you still believe
I am Jor from the play?
Now I play the role of life!
I disguised myself in a costume
so I could abduct you.
Open your eyes, girl!
See and learn about life.
Do you wish to know
my true name?
Very well, girl, my name is:
“Pleasure!”
IRIS
(terror accenting her speech)
One day, when I was small,
In the temple I saw the priest
with a screen
all covered with symbols,
showing the veil
of mystery...
There was on it a beach
near a vast, dead sea
the color of bronze;
and there was a sky
red like blood,
a livid red;
and a great shore,
a great shore
gray and black...
A little girl lay there,
Her limbs bony,
Her hair scattered,
And on her lips
A smile that was a spasm...
From the dead sea
A large beast lifted
Its head...
And the little girl wide eyed
Looked up to see
such a terrifying
sight straight
ahead!
On the dead sea
The monster moved its shiny tentacles,
Iris Libretto and Translation - Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard
29
moveva il mostro, e per le gambe,
pei reni e per le spalle,
poi per le chiome
e il fronte e gli occhi
e il petto esile ansante,
e per le braccia
la stringe e allaccia!
La stringe e allaccia in viso!
Essa sorride ognor!
Essa sorride e muor
con un estremo spasimo
che par un riso... essa sorride
e muor, e muor!
E il bonzo a voce forte:
"Quella piovra è il Piacere...
Quella piovra è la Morte!"

Deh, ch'io torni a mio padre!

credits

released August 7, 2023

license

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