Since the last posting was about the end of Twilight of the Gods, I thought that I’d do another Wagner posting. This time, it is Callas at the beginning of her career. She did sing Wagner in Italy, and this is her version of the Liebestod, sung in Italian. I have given a direct translation of the Italian; in other words, I have not given the English translation of the original German.
This is considered to be an unusual recording by Callas. It is one of the few that we have of her singing heavy, German rep. I hope that you like it.
Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, “Liebestod”
Dolce e calmo, sorridente,
Ei dischiude gli occhi belli.
Nol vedete?
Come chiara fiamma ei brilla:
Viva stella in alto ciel!
Nol vedete?
Come fiero balza il core?
Sgorga in lui qual magico fonte!
Sul suo labbro calmo appar
la dolcezza del sorriso.
Dite! Ah!
Non lo vede alcun?
Odo io sola questo canto?
Voce arcana, voce pia.
Calma, pura, come il pianto,
Dolce incanto, inno santo,
Che penètra l’esser mio,
Risuonando a me d’intorno?
Cresce.appressa.
Già m’invade.
Sei tu l’onda de le brezze?
Sei tu nube fatta d’incensi?
Che m’inonda, che mi avvolge.
Ch’io ti aspiri! Che in te spiri!
In te immersa e sommersa,
sento l’esser mio svanire!
Ne l’immenso ondeggiar,
Nel crescente clangor.
Nel fulgor d’una luce immortal
attratta, rapita. Me smarrir.
Sommo ben.
Wagner, Tristan and Isolde, “Dolce e calmo”
Sweet and calm, smiling,
He opens his beautiful eyes.
Can’t you see him?
Like a bright flame he shines:
A living star in the high heavens!
Can’t you see him?
How fiercely his heart leaps!
It gushes forth like a magical fountain!
On his calm lips appears
the sweetness of a smile.
Tell me! Ah!
Can’t anyone see him?
Am I the only one who hears this song?
Mysterious voice, pious voice.
Calm, pure, like tears,
Sweet enchantment, holy hymn,
That penetrates my being,
Resounding around me?
It grows closer.
It already invades me.
Are you the wave of the breeze?
Are you a cloud made of incense?
That floods me, that envelops me.
May I breathe you in! May I breathe in you!
Immersed and submerged in you,
I feel my being vanish!
In the immense swaying,
In the growing clamor.
In the glow of an immortal light,
Attracted, enraptured. I lose myself.
Supreme good.