Maria Capuana was a prominent Italian mezzo-soprano with an international opera career in the first half of the 20th century. She was known for her rich, dark-timbred voice and expressive dramatic artistry, especially in both Italian and German repertoire.
Capuana was especially admired for her emotional depth and dramatic intensity, bridging the Italian and German operatic traditions at a time when such versatility was highly prized.
Her performing career largely concluded around the outbreak of World War II, after which she retired from the stage.
This was a great voice. The placement of the air is off the throat, and it is high in the resonance. I have only given one selection since it is rather long. I hope that you enjoy it.
Verdi, Aida, Act IV, scene 1
AMNERIS
(mestamente atteggiata davanti la porta del
sotterraneo)
L’aborrita rivale a me sfuggia.
Dai sacerdoti Radamès attende
Dei traditor la pena. Traditor
Egli non è. Pur rivelò di guerra
L’alto segreto. Egli fuggir volea,
Con lei fuggire! Traditori tutti!
A morte! A morte!
Oh! che mai parlo? Io l’amo,
io l’amo sempre. Disperato, insano
È quest’amor che la mia vita strugge.
Oh! s’ei potesse amarmi!
Vorrei salvarlo. E come?
Si tenti! Guardie, Radamès qui venga.
(Entra Radamès condotto dalle guardie.)
Già i sacerdoti adunansi,
Arbitri del tuo fato,
Pur dell’accusa orribile
Scolparti ancor t’è dato;
Ti scolpa e la tua grazia
Io pregherò dal trono,
E nunzia di perdono,
Di vita a te sarò.
RADAMÈS
Di mie discolpe i giudici
Mai non udran l’accento;
Dinanzi ai numi, agl’uomini
Né vi!, né reo mi sento.
Profferse il labbro incauto
Fatal segreto, è vero,
Ma puro il mio pensiero
E l’onor mio restò.
AMNERIS
Salvati dunque e scolpati.
RADAMÈS
No.
AMNERIS
Tu morrai.
RADAMÈS
La vita
Aborro! d’ogni gaudio
La fonte inaridita,
Svanita ogni speranza,
Sol bramo di morir.
AMNERIS
Morire! Ah, tu dêi vivere!
Sì, all’amor mio vivrai;
Per te le angosce orribili
Di morte io già provai;
T’amai, soffersi tanto,
Vegliai le notti in pianto,
E patria, e trono, e vita
Tutto darei per te.
RADAMÈS
Per essa anch’io la patria
E l’onor mio tradia…
AMNERIS
Di lei non più!
RADAMÈS
L’infamia
Mi attende e vuoi ch’io viva?
Misero appien mi festi,
Aida a me togliesti;
Spenta l’hai forse, e in dono
Offri la vita a me?
AMNERIS
Io, di sua morte origine!
No, vive Aida!
RADAMÈS
Vive!
AMNERIS
Nei disperati aneliti
Dell’orde fuggitive
Sol cadde il padre.
RADAMÈS
Ed ella?
AMNERIS
Sparve, né più novella
S’ebbe…
RADAMÈS
Gli dei l’adducano
Salva alle patrie mura,
E ignori la sventura
Di chi per lei morrà!
AMNERIS
Or, s’io ti salvo, giurami
Che più non la vedrai…
RADAMÈS
Nol posso!
AMNERIS
A lei rinuncia
Per sempre, e tu vivrai!
RADAMÈS
Nol posso!
AMNERIS
Ancor una volta:
A lei rinuncia.
RADAMÈS
È vano.
AMNERIS
Morir vuoi dunque, insano?
RADAMÈS
Pronto a morir son già.
AMNERIS
Chi ti salva, sciagurato,
Dalla sorte che t’aspetta?
In furor hai tu cangiato
Un amor ch’egual non ha.
De’ miei pianti la vendetta
Ora dal ciel si compirà, ecc.
RADAMÈS
È la morte un ben supremo
Se per lei morir m’è dato;
Nel subir l’estremo fato
Gaudii immensi il core avrà;
L’ira umana più non temo,
Temo sol la tua pietà, ecc.
AMNERIS
Ah! chi ti salva?…
De’ miei pianti, ecc.
(Radamès parte circondato dalle guardie.)
AMNERIS (cade desolata su di un sedile)
Ohimè! morir mi sento!
Oh! chi lo salva?
E in poter di costoro
Io stessa lo gettai! Ora a te impreco,
Atroce gelosia, che la sua morte
E il lutto eterno del mio cor segnasti!
(Si volge e vede i sacerdoti che attraversano la scena
per entrare nel sotterraneo.)
Ecco i fatali,
Gl’inesorati ministri di morte!
Oh! ch’io non vegga quelle bianche larve!
(Si copre il volto con le mani.)
E in poter di costoro
Io stessa lo gettai! ecc.
RAMFIS e
SACERDOTI (nel sotterraneo)
Spirto del nume, sovra noi discendi!
Ne avviva al raggio dell’eterna luce;
Pel labbro nostro tua giustizia apprendi.
AMNERIS
Numi, pietà del mio straziato core…
Egli è innocente, lo salvate, o Numi!
Disperato, tremendo è il mio dolore!
RAMFIS e
SACERDOTI
Spirto del Nume, ecc.
AMNERIS
Oh, chi lo salva? Ohimè! Mi sento morir!
(Radamès tra le guardie attraversa la scena e scende
nel sotterraneo. Amneris, al vederlo, mette un grido.)
RAMFIS (nel sotterraneo)
Radamès, Radamès, Radamès:
Tu rivelasti
Della patria i segreti allo straniero!
Discolpati!
SACERDOTI
Discolpati!
RAMFIS
Egli tace…
TUTTI
Traditor!
AMNERIS
Ah, pietà! Egli è innocente! Numi, pietà!
RAMFIS
Radamès, Radamès, Radamès:
Tu disertasti
Dal campo il dì che precedea la pugna.
Discolpati!
SACERDOTI
Discolpati!
RAMFIS
Egli tace…
TUTTI
Traditor!
AMNERIS
Ah, pietà! Ah, lo salvate! Numi, pietà!
RAMFIS
Radamès, Radamès, Radamès:
Tua fé violasti,
Alla patria spergiuro, al Re, all’onore.
Discolpati!
SACERDOTI
Discolpati!
RAMFIS
Egli tace…
TUTTI
Traditor!
AMNERIS
Ah, pietà! Ah, lo salvate! Numi, pietà!
RAMFIS e
SACERDOTI
Radamès, è deciso il tuo fato:
Degl’infami la morte tu avrai;
Sotto l’ara del Nume sdegnato
A te vivo fia schiuso l’avel.
AMNERIS
A lui vivo, la tomba! Oh! gl’infami!
Né di sangue son paghi giammai…
E si chiaman ministri del ciel!
RAMFIS e
SACERDOTI
Traditor!
AMNERIS
(investendo i sacerdoti che escono dal sotterraneo)
Sacerdoti: compiste un delitto!
Tigri infami di sangue assetate,
Voi la terra ed i Numi oltraggiate,
Voi punite chi colpa non ha.
RAMFIS e
SACERDOTI
È traditor! morrà!
AMNERIS (a Ramfis)
Sacerdote: quest’uomo che uccidi,
Tu lo sai, da me un giorno fu amato,
L’anatema d’un core straziato
Col suo sangue su te ricadrà!
Voi la terra ed i numi, ecc.
Ah no, non è traditor…pietà, ecc.
RAMFIS e
SACERDOTI
È traditor! morrà!
(Si allontanano lentamente.)
AMNERIS
Empia razza! anatema su voi!
La vendetta del ciel scenderà!
Verdi, Aida, Act IV, scene 1
AMNERIS
(sadly, standing before the door)
My hated rival has escaped.
Radamès awaits, from the hands
of the priests, the traitor’s punishment.
But he is not a traitor,
even if he revealed the secret plan.
He meant to flee – with her!
Traitors all! Death to them – death!
Oh, what am I saying? I love him,
I still love him, with a mad, a desperate
love, which is killing me.
Oh! if only he might love me!
I should like to save him. How? I shall try!
Guards, bring Radamès to me.
(Radamès enters escorted by guards.)
The priests even now are in counsel,
deciding you fate.
But you can still establish your innocence
in answer to the dread accusations.
Clear yourself, and I shall ask
pardon for you from the King.
In that way, I can bring
both pardon and life you.
RADAMÈS
The judges shall never hear me
try to defend myself.
Before the gods and man
I feel myself neither traitors no guilty.
My incautious words
revealed the secret, it is true.
But both my thought
and my honour remain unstained by guilt.
AMNERIS
Then defend yourself – save yourself.
RADAMÈS
No.
AMNERIS
You will die –
RADAMÈS
Life
is hateful to me. The source
of all joy is now dry,
every hope is gone.
I wish only to die.
AMNERIS
To die! Ah, you must live!
Yes, you shall live in my love.
For you, I have already felt
the horrible anguish of death.
I loved, I suffered,
I passed the nights in tears.
My country, my throne, my life –
I should give up all for you.
RADAMÈS
For her, I too betrayed
my country and my honour.
AMNERIS
Do not speak of her!
RADAMÈS
Infamy
is my lot – and you ask me to live?
You brought me to the depths of misery,
you took Aida from me.
Perhaps, because of you, she is dead –
and you offer me my life?
AMNERIS
Aida dead, because of me?
No, she is alive!
RADAMÈS
She is alive!
AMNERIS
In the desperate flight
of the fleeing hordes
only her father died.
RADAMÈS
And she?
AMNERIS
She disappeared,
nothing is known of her.
RADAMÈS
May the gods lead her
safely to her home.
May she never know the fate
of the one who will die for her!
AMNERIS
If I save you, swear to me
that you will never see her again.
RADAMÈS
I cannot!
AMNERIS
If you renounce her
forever, you will live!
RADAMÈS
I cannot!
AMNERIS
Once more –
renounce her.
RADAMÈS
It is in vain.
AMNERIS
Madman – you insist on dying?
RADAMÈS
I am ready to die!
AMNERIS
Who will save you, wretch,
from the fate which awaits you?
You have changed into hatred
a love which had no equal.
Only heaven
can now avenge my tears, etc.
RADAMÈS
Death is the greatest good,
if I may die for her;
In going to meet my fate
my heart will know great joy;
I have no fear of mortal wrath,
your pity is the only thing I fear, etc.
AMNERIS
Ah, who will save him?…
Only heaven, etc.
(Radamès goes out, surrounded by guards.)
AMNERIS (she falls desolately into a chair)
Alas! I shall die!
Oh, who will save him?
And it was I who cast him
into their hands! Now I curse
my jealousy, which brought his death
and eternal mourning in my heart!
(She turns and sees the priests, who are going down
into Radamès’s underground prison.)
Ah, there they are –
the pitiless ministers of death!
Oh, may I not see them, these white-robed ghouls!
(She covers her face with her hands.)
And it was I who cast him
into their hands! etc.
RAMFIS and
PRIESTS (in the vault)
Spirit of the gods, descend upon us!
Let thy eternal ray enlighten us;
let our lips pronounce thy justice.
AMNERIS
O gods, take pity on my anguished heart!
He is innocent – save him, O gods!
My grief is desperate, overwhelming!
RAMFIS and
PRIESTS
Spirit of the gods, etc.
AMNERIS
Oh, who will save him? I shall die!
(Radamès, surrounded by guards is led into the vault.
Amneris, seeing him, cries out.)
RAMFIS (in the vault)
Radamès! Radamès! Radamès!
You revealed
your country’s secrets to the enemy!
Defend yourself.
PRIESTS
Defend yourself.
RAMFIS
He is silent.
ALL
Traitor!
AMNERIS
Ah, pity! He is innocent! Pity! O gods!
RAMFIS
Radamès! Radamès! Radamès!
You deserted
your command on the eve of battle.
Defend yourself.
PRIESTS
Defend yourself.
RAMFIS
He is silent.
ALL
Traitor!
AMNERIS
Ah, pity! Ah, save him! Pity, O gods!
RAMFIS
Radamès! Radamès! Radamès!
You betrayed
your country, your King, your honour.
Defend yourself.
PRIESTS
Defend yourself.
RAMFIS
He is silent.
ALL
Traitor!
AMNERIS
Ah, pity! Ah, save him! Pity, O gods!
RAMFIS and
PRIESTS
Radamès, your fate is decided;
you shall die a traitor’s death.
Beneath the altar of the offended god,
you, living, shall be entombed.
AMNERIS
Entombed alive! Oh, the villains!
their thirst for blood is never appeased –
yet they call themselves heaven’s ministers!
RAMFIS and
PRIESTS
Traitor!
AMNERIS
(assailing the priests as they come up from the vault)
Priests – you have committed a crime!
Infamous, bloodthirsty beasts –
you outrage the gods and man,
punishing the innocent!
RAMFIS and
PRIESTS
He is a traitor! He shall die.
AMNERIS (to Ramfis)
Priest, this man whom you send to death,
you know well, I once loved.
The curse of a broken heart,
together with his blood, will fall upon you!
You outrage the gods, etc.
Ah, he is no traitor…have mercy, etc.
RAMFIS and
PRIESTS
He is a traitor! He shall die.
(They go out slowly.)
AMNERIS
Impious brood! My curse upon you!
Heaven’s vengeance will strike you!
Maria Capuana
September 2, 1891 – February 22, 1955
Maria Capuana was born in Fano, Italy. She was the older sister of the conductor Franco Capuana. She studied singing and piano in Naples at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella, where she was a pupil of Beniamino Carelli.
She made her stage debut in Reggio Emilia in 1916, playing Amneris in Aida, a role she would reprise many times and which she recorded in the first commercial recording of the opera by Columbia in Milan.
She soon began to appear in major theaters in both Italy and France, and by 1920, not yet thirty, she had already appeared at La Scala, the San Carlo in Naples, the Regio in Turin, and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. In the early part of her career, she also took on the Wagnerian repertoire, achieving several successes as Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, a role that helped make her one of the leading Wagnerian singers of the period in Italy. Her repertoire also included Ortrud in Lohengrin, Venus in Tannhäuser, Erda, Fricka, Gutrune, and Second Norn in Der Ring des Nibelungen.
In 1923, she achieved great success at La Scala in the role of Herodias in Salome. She returned frequently to La Scala until 1928, in the roles of Amneris, Fricka, Ortrud, and Rubria in Arrigo Boito’s Nerone. Between 1924 and 1936, she also periodically appeared on stage at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, once again in singing Wagner, and made several appearances at the San Carlo in Naples, including the role of Rufina in Riccardo Zandonai’s Conchita. In 1926, at the Teatro Gaetano Donizetti in Bergamo, she performed in the world premiere of Ivania by Emilio Pizzi. She appeared several times at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo and in 1931 toured with the Carro di Tespi.
In addition to France, between the 1920s and 1930s she sang in Barcelona, Lisbon, Cairo, at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, in Chile, and South Africa.
Other roles she played included Adalgisa in Norma, Azucena in Il trovatore, Charlotte in Werther, Laura in La Gioconda, Leonora in La favorita, Maffio Orsini in Lucrezia Borgia, Marguerite in La damnation de Faust, Eboli in Don Carlo, and La vecchia in L’amore dei tre re.
Her career ended in the late 1930s, coinciding with the outbreak of World War II. In the latter part of her life, she moved to Sardinia, where she opened a singing school, and where she lived until her death at the age of 63.