I found a wonderful live, recording on the third act of Aida on youtube, recorded in Rome in 1950. Callas is Aida, and a wonderful baritone, Raffaele de Falchi is Amonasro. Falchi is kind of forgotten baritone as there is almost no information on him that I could find.
However, he had a big, Verdi voice, and his musicianship is wonderful. Listen to the very free vocal production, and his amazing legato, especially for such a big voice. And there is, of course, Callas, who at this time was in her prime. Please enjoy.
Verdi, Act III, “Le rive del Nilo”
AIDA
O patria mia, mai più ti rivedrò!
O cieli azzurri, o dolci aure native,
Dove sereno il mio mattin brillò,
O verdi colli, o profumate rive,
O patria mia, mai più ti rivedrò! ecc.
O fresche valli, o queto asil beato,
Che un dì promesso dall’amor mi fu;
Or che d’amore il sogno è dileguato,
O patria mia, non ti vedrò mai più! ecc.
(Volgendosi, vede i padre.)
Ciel! mio padre!
AMONASRO
A te grave cagion
M’adduce, Aida.
Nulla sfugge al mio sguardo.
D’amor ti struggi
Per Radamès, ei t’ama, e lo attendi.
Dei Faraon la figlia è tua rivale…
Razza infame, aborrita e a noi fatale!
AIDA
E in suo potere io sto!
Io, d’Amonasro figlia!
AMONASRO
In poter di lei!
No! se lo brami
La possente rival tu vincerai.
E patria, e trono, e amor, tutto tu avrai.
Rivedrai le foreste imbalsamate,
Le fresche valli, i nostri templi d’or.
AIDA
Rivedrò le foreste imbalsamate,
Le fresche valli, i nostri templi d’or.
AMONASRO
Sposa felice a lui che amasti tanto,
Tripudii immensi ivi potrai gioir.
AIDA
Un giorno solo di sì dolce incanto,
Un’ora di tal gioia, e poi morir!
AMONASRO
Pur rammenti che a noi l’Egizio immite,
Le case, i templi e l’are profanò,
Trasse in ceppi le vergini rapite;
Madri, vecchi,
Fanciulli ei trucidò.
AIDA
Ah! ben rammento quegl’infausti giorni!
Rammento i lutti che il mio cor soffrì.
Deh, fate, o Numi, che per noi ritorni
L’alba invocata de’ sereni dì.
AMONASRO
Rammenta…
Non fia che tardi.
In armi ora si desta
Il popol nostro; tutto è pronto già,
Vittoria avrem. Solo a saper mi resta
Qual sentiero il nemico seguirà.
AIDA
Chi scoprirlo potria? chi mai?
AMONASRO
Tu stessa!
AIDA
Io!
AMONASRO
Radamès so che qui attendi…Ei t’ama…
Ei conduce gli Egizii…
Intendi?
AIDA
Orrore!
Che mi consigli tu? No! no! giammai!
AMONASRO (con impeto selvaggio)
Su, dunque! sorgete,
Egizie coorti!
Col fuoco struggete
Le nostre città.
Spargete il terrore,
Le stragi, le morti.
Al vostro furore
Più freno non v’ha.
AIDA
Ah padre!
AMONASRO (respingendola)
Mia figlia ti chiami!
AIDA
Pietà!
AMONASRO
Flutti di sangue scorrono
Sulle città dei vinti.
Vedi? dai negri vortici
Si levano gli estinti.
Ti additan essi e gridano:
Per te la patria muor!
AIDA
Pietà! Ah padre, pietà!
AMONASRO
Una larva orribile
Fra l’ombre a noi s’affaccia.
Trema! le scarne braccia
Sul capo tuo levò.
Tua madre ell’è, ravvisala,
Ti maledice…
AIDA (nel massimo terrore)
Ah! padre! no!…Ah! pietà, padre!, ecc.
AMONASRO (respingendola)
Non sei mia figlia!
Dei Faraoni tu sei la schiava!
AIDA
Ah! Pietà! Pietà!
Padre, a costoro schiava non sono;
Non maledirmi, non imprecarmi;
Ancor tua figlia potrai chiamarmi,
Della mia patria degna sarò.
AMONASRO
Pensa che un popolo vinto, straziato,
Per te soltanto risorger può…
AIDA
O patria! o patria…quanto mi costi!
AMONASRO
Coraggio! ei giunge, là tutto udrò.
(Si nasconde fra i palmizi. Radamès entra.)
RADAMÈS
Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida…
AIDA
T’arresta, vanne, che speri ancor?
RADAMÈS
A te dappresso l’amor mi guida.
AIDA
Te i riti attendono d’un altro amor.
D’Amneris sposo…
RADAMÈS
Che parli mai?
Te sola, Aida, te deggio amar.
Gli dei m’ascoltano, tu mia sarai.
AIDA
D’uno spergiuro non ti macchiar!
Prode t’amai, non t’amerei spergiuro.
RADAMÈS
Dell’amor mio dubiti, Aida?
AIDA
E come speri sottrarti d’Amneris ai vezzi,
Del Re al voler, del tuo popolo ai voti,
Dei sacerdoti all’ira?
RADAMÈS
Odimi, Aida.
Nel fiero anelito di nuova guerra
Il suolo etiope si ridestò;
I tuoi già invadono la nostra terra,
Io degli Egizi duce sarò.
Fra il suon, fra i plausi della vittoria,
Al Re mi prostro, gli svelo il cor;
Sarai tu il seno della mia gloria,
Vivrem beati d’eterno amore.
AIDA
Né d’Amneris paventi
II vindice furor? La sua vendetta,
Come folgor tremenda,
Cadrà su me, sul padre mio, su tutti.
RADAMÈS
Io vi difendo.
AIDA
Invan, tu nol potresti.
Pur, se tu m’ami, ancor s’apre una via
Di scampo a noi…
RADAMÈS
Quale?
AIDA
Fuggir…
RADAMÈS
Fuggire!
AIDA
Fuggiam gli ardori inospiti
Di queste lande ignude;
Una novella patria
Al nostro amor si schiude.
Là, tra foreste vergini,
Di fiori profumate,
In estasi beate
La terra scorderem.
RADAMÈS
Sovra una terra estrania
Teco fuggir dovrei!
Abbandonar la patria,
L’are de’ nostri dei!
Il suol dov’io raccolsi
Di gloria i primi allori,
Il ciel de’ nostri amori
Come scordar potrem?
AIDA
Là tra foreste vergini, ecc.
RADAMÈS
Il ciel dei nostri amori, ecc.
AIDA
Sotto il mio ciel, più libero
L’amor ne fia concesso;
Ivi nel tempio istesso
Gli stessi numi avrem, ecc.
RADAMÈS
Abbandonar la patria, ecc.
AIDA
Fuggiam, fuggiam!
RADAMÈS (esitante)
Aida!
AIDA
Tu non m’ami…Va!
RADAMÈS
Non t’amo?
Mortal giammai né dio
Arse d’amor al par del mio possente.
AIDA
Va, va, t’attende all’ara Amneris.
RADAMÈS
No! Giammai!
AIDA
Giammai, dicesti?
Allor piombi la scure
Su me, sul padre mio…
RADAMÈS
Ah no! fuggiamo!
Sì, fuggiam da queste mura,
Al deserto insiem fuggiamo;
Qui sol regna la sventura,
Là si schiude un ciel d’amor.
I deserti interminati
A noi talamo saranno,
Su noi gli astri brilleranno
Di più limpido fulgor.
AIDA
Nella terra avventurata
De’ miei padri il ciel ne attende:
Ivi l’aura è imbalsamata,
Ivi il suolo è aromi e fior.
Fresche valli e verdi prati
A noi talamo saranno,
Su noi gli astri brilleranno
Di più limpido fulgor.
AIDA e
RADAMÈS
Vieni meco, insiem fuggiamo
Questa terra di dolor.
Vieni meco, t’amo, t’amo!
A noi duce fa l’amor.
AIDA
Ma, dimmi: per qual via
Eviterem le schiere degli armati?
RADAMÈS
Il sentier scelto dai nostri
A piombar sul nemico fia deserto
Fino a domani.
AIDA
E quel sentier?
RADAMÈS
Le gole di Nàpata.
(Si fa avanti Amonasro.)
AMONASRO
Di Nàpata le gole!
Ivi saranno i miei!
RADAMÈS
Oh! chi ci ascolta?
AMONASRO
D’Aida il padre e degli Etiopi il Re.
RADAMÈS (agitatissimo)
Tu, Amonasro!…tu, il Re?
Numi! che dissi?
No!…non è ver!…sogno…
Delirio è questo…
AIDA
Ah no! ti calma…ascoltami,
All’amor mio t’affida.
AMONASRO
A te l’amor d’Aida
Un soglio innalzerà.
RADAMÈS
Io son disonorato!
Per te tradii la patria!
AIDA
Ti calma!
AMONASRO
No: tu non sei colpevole,
Era voler del fato.
RADAMÈS
Io son disonorato!
AIDA
Ah! no!
RADAMÈS
Per te tradii la patria!
AMONASRO
No: tu non sei colpevole.
AIDA
Ti calma…
AMONASRO
Vieni: oltre il Nil ne attendono
I prodi a noi devoti;
Là del tuo core i voti
Coronerà l’amor.
Vieni!
(Amneris esce dal tempio, indi Ramfis, Sacerdoti, e
guardie.)
AMNERIS
Traditor!
AIDA
La mia rival!…
AMONASRO
(avventandosi su Amneris con un pugnale)
L’opra mia a strugger vieni!
Muori!
RADAMÈS (frapponendosi)
Arresta, insano!
AMONASRO
Oh rabbia!
RAMFIS
Guardie, olà!
RADAMÈS (ad Aida ed Amonasro)
Presto! fuggite!
AMONASRO (trascinando Aida)
Vieni, o figlia!
RAMFIS (alle guardie)
Li inseguite!
RADAMÈS (a Ramfis)
Sacerdote, io resto a te.
Verdi, Aida, The Nile Scene
O fatherland, I shall never see you again!
O blue skies, soft breezes of my homeland,
where I lived out the quiet morning of my life,
O grassy hills, O fragrant streams,
O fatherland, I shall never see you again! etc.
O cool valleys, blessed, peaceful haven,
one day promised me by love,
now that the dream of love is gone,
O fatherland, I shall never see you again! etc.
(Amonasro enters.)
Heaven! My father!
AMONASRO
A grave matter
has brought me here, Aida.
Nothing escapes my eyes.
Love for Radamès is killing you.
He loves you too. You are waiting for him.
The daughter of the Pharaohs is your rival –
Princess of a hated race, our deadly enemy.
AIDA
And I am in her power!
I, the daughter of Amonasro!
AMONASRO
In her power!
No! if you wish,
you can defeat your powerful rival,
and fatherland, throne and love will all be yours.
You will see again our fragrant forests,
the cool valleys and the golden temples.
AIDA
1 shall see again our fragrant forests,
the cool valleys and the golden temples.
AMONASRO
Happy bride of the one you love,
you shall know great joys at last.
AIDA
One day of such enchantment,
one hour of such great joy – then I can die!
AMONASRO
You have not forgotten that pitiless Egypt
defiled our altars, temples and homes,
carrying off our maidens in slavery,
murdering our mothers, our old men and out
children?
AIDA
Ah, I remember well those unhappy days,
and the mournful sorrow which filled my heart!
Ah, grant, O gods, that for us may return
the dawn of this peaceful days for which we pray.
AMONASRO
Remember…
It cannot be long delayed.
Our people even now are ready for battle;
all is prepared, and we shall conquer.
One thing is lacking – for me to know
the route that the enemy will follow.
AIDA
Who could find out? Who?
AMONASRO
You could!
AMONASRO
I know you are waiting for Radamès. He loves you.
He is the Egyptian captain.
Do you understand?
AIDA
A horrid thought!
What are you asking of me? No, never!
AMONASRO (fiercely)
Arise then
soldiers of Egypt!
Sack and burn
our cities!
Spread terror,
rape and death!
There is no rein now
to your fury!
AIDA
Ah, father! father!
AMONASRO (repulsing her)
You call yourself my daughter!
AIDA
Have pity!
AMONASRO
Waves of blood are flowing
over the vanquished cities.
See – from the black swirls
the dead arise.
They point at you and cry,
“Because of you, our country dies!”
AIDA
Have pity! Father, have pity!
AMONASRO
A horrid spectre
rises in the shadows before us.
Tremble, for over your head
it lifts its bony arms.
It is your mother – see her,
she is cursing you!
AIDA (terrified)
Ah! father! no! have pity! etc.
AMONASRO (repulsing her)
You are not my daughter!
You are the slave of the Pharaohs!
AIDA
Ah! Have pity! Have pity!
Father, I am not their slave.
Do not curse me nor revile me –
you will call be daughter again,
for I shall be worthy of my country.
AMONASRO
Remember that a whole people, conquered
and suffering, can rise again through you!
AIDA
O fatherland, what a price I must pay, for thee!
AMONASRO
Be brave! He is coming now. I shall hear all.
(He hides among the palms. Radamès enters.)
RADAMÈS
At last I am with you, again, sweet Aida.
AIDA
Stop go away! What do you want from me?
RADAMÈS
It is love which brings me to you.
AIDA
But the rites of another love await you.
Married to Amneris –
RADAMÈS
What are you saying?
You, Aida, are the only one I can love.
As the gods are my witness, you shall be mine.
AIDA
Do not break your oath! As a hero
I loved you, if you swear false, I cannot.
RADAMÈS
Do you doubt my love, Aida?
AIDA
But how can you escape from Amneris’ wiles,
from the King’s command, from the people’s will,
from the wrath of the priests?
RADAMÈS
Hear me, Aida
Ethiopia has awakened,
eager for fierce, new battles.
Your people have already invaded,
and I shall lead the Egyptians again.
Then, in the midst of the triumph,
kneeling before the King, I shall open my heart.
You shall be my victor’s wreath;
and we shall live, blessed by undying love.
AIDA
And do you not fear
Amneris’s wrath? Her vengeance,
like a thunderbolt,
will strike me, my father and my people.
RADAMÈS
I shall defend you.
AIDA
It would be in vain.
Yet, if you love me, there is still
an escape for us.
RADAMÈS
What is it?
AIDA
To flee –
RADAMÈS
To flee!
AIDA
Let us flee from the scorching sun
of this desert land.
A new fatherland
reveals itself to our love.
There, in the virgin forests,
fragrant with sweet flowers,
we shall forget the world
in blessed joy.
RADAMÈS
You asked me to flee with you
to a foreign land?
To abandon my fatherland
and the altars of our gods?
This land where I first plucked
the flowers of glory,
this land where first we loved –
how can we forget it?
AIDA
There, in the virgin forest, etc.
RADAMÈS
The land where we loved, etc.
AIDA
Beneath my country’s freer skies
it will be granted to us to love.
There, in the same temples
we shall worship the same gods, etc.
RADAMÈS
To abandon my fatherland etc.
AIDA
Let us flee –
RADAMÈS (hesitating)
Aida!
AIDA
You do not love me – go!
RADAMÈS
Not love you!
No man, no god
has ever burned with such a love!
AIDA
Go, go – Amneris is waiting for you at the altar –
RADAMÈS
No, never!
AIDA
Never, you say?
Then the headman’s axe will fall
on me, on my father –
RADAMÈS
Ah no! Let us flee together.
Yes, let us flee, far from these walls,
let us flee, together, to the desert.
Here there is nothing but misfortune,
there we shall find a heaven of love,
the never ending desert
will be our wedding-bed,
the stars will shine upon us
with a purer, brighter light!
AIDA
In the happy land
of my fathers, heaven awaits us.
There the breeze blows sweet
over that perfumed land of flowers.
Cool valleys and green fields
will be our wedding-bed.
The stars will shine upon us
with a purer, brighter light!
AIDA and
RADAMÈS
Come with me, we shall flee together,
from this land of sorrow.
Come with me, I love you,
and love shall be our king.
AIDA
But tell me – how can we avoid
the Egyptian legions?
RADAMÈS
The route by which my men
will march against the enemy
will be free until tomorrow.
AIDA
And that route is?
RADAMÈS
The pass of Napata.
(Amonasro comes forward.)
AMONASRO
The pass of Napata!
My men will be there!
RADAMÈS
Who has overheard us?
AMONASRO
Aida’s father, the King of the Ethiopians!
RADAMÈS (excitedly)
You – Amonasro! You – the King! O gods!
What have I done?
No, it cannot be, it cannot be!
I dream, I am raving mad!
AIDA
Ah no! Be calm. Listen to me,
trust my love.
AMONASRO
Aida’s love for you
will build you a throne!
RADAMÈS
I am dishonoured! dishonored!
For you I have betrayed my country!
AIDA
Be calm!
AMONASRO
No! You are not guilty,
it was the will of Fate.
RADAMÈS
I am dishonored!
AIDA
Ah, no!
RADAMÈS
For you I have betrayed my country!
AMONASRO
No: You are not guilty.
AIDA
Be calm…
AMONASRO
Come – beyond the Nile
my brave and faithful men are waiting.
There, love shall fulfil
the wishes of your, heart.
Come!
(Amneris, Ramfis, the priests and guards come out
from the temple.)
AMNERIS
Traitor!
AIDA
My rival!
AMONASRO
(throwing himself upon Amneris with drawn dagger)
You have come to defeat my plans.
You shall die!
RADAMÈS (coming between them)
Stop, madman!
AMONASRO
Oh, fury!
RAMFIS
Guards, look out!
RADAMÈS (to Aida and Amonasro)
Quickly! flee!
AMONASRO (dragging Aida)
Come, my daughter.
RAMFIS (to the guards)
After them!
RADAMÈS (to Ramfis)
Priest, I am in your hands.
Raffaele de Falchi
1910-1978
This is very unusual. I think that this the first time that I have posted a musician where there is very little on the internet, not even in the internet in Italy. I will post the little that I have, but it is not very much.
“The annual international opera competition “Premio Fausto Ricci,” whose 11th edition was held in Viterbo on October 15, reminds us that the city has had a special affinity for melodrama in the past. First and foremost, Fausto Ricci (1892-1964), a native of Viterbo, who made his debut as a baritone at the Teatro Unione in Viterbo in 1914 with Gounod’s Faust, before performing on stages around the world.
Another notable baritone was Raffaele De Falchi (1910-1978), also a native of Viterbo, who made his debut at La Scala in 1933 at the age of just 23 in Monteverdi’s Orfeo and ended his career in 1960, the year of the Olympics, in a spectacular Aida at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. Mascagni considered him one of the best ‘Alfios’ in history. His stage partners included Maria Callas, Maria Caniglia, and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, among many others.”