E lucevan le stelle

Original poster for the opera

E lucevan le stelle ( Italian for: "And the stars shone" ) is an aria in Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca , which premiered on January 14, 1900 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.

The piece is considered one of the most famous and popular opera arias. It was written in B minor , the libretto is by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica . It is sung in the third act of the opera by Tosca's lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi ( tenor ), when he is allowed to write a suicide note to Tosca shortly before his execution.

text

E lucevan le stelle, ed olezzava la terra stridea l'uscio dell'orto ed un passo sfiorava la rena. Entrava ella fragrante, mi cadea fra le braccia. O dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli! Svanì per semper il sogno mio d'amore. L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!

And the stars shone, and the earth smelled, the garden gate creaked, and steps brushed the sand. She entered, scented, and sank into my arms. Oh! Sweet kisses, oh longing kissing, while trembling I revealed the beautiful body! Forever my love dream is gone. The hour is over and I'm dying in despair! And never loved life so much!

See also

• Avalon (Al Jolson Song)

Web links

• E lucevan le stelle , sung by Luciano Pavarotti
• E lucevan le stelle , on the Aria database website
• Giacomo Puccini, Tosca , Cambridge University Press, Opera Handbooks, engl.