E Lucevan le Stelle♪Tosca♫ Lyrics

Luciano Pavarotti
Metropolitan Opera
 (1080pHD)

Synopsis: 

Cavaradossi trades his last possession, a ring, to get a guard to take a letter to the imprisoned Tosca. 

As he writes the letter, he sings of his love for Tosca and for life.

André Rieu

E lucevan le stelle

The Platin Tenors 

Performing 'E lucevan le stelle' live in Maastricht

Original Lyrics:

E lucevan le stelle		The stars were gleaming,
ed olezzava la terra,		The ground was fragrant...
stridea l'uscio dell'orto,		The creak of the garden gate,
e un passo sfiorava la rena...		light footsteps in the sand,
Entrava ella, fragrante,		the smell of her hair. She came
Mi cadea fra le braccia...		and fell into my arms.
Oh dolci baci, o languide carezze,		Oh tender kisses, sweet caresses,
Mentr'io fremente		While, trembling, I beheld
La belle forme discioglea dai veli!		Her beautiful form freed of its gown.
Svani per sempre il sogno mio d'amore..		Gone forever is my dream of love.
L'ora e' fuggita...		Time has fled, and I die in despair!
E muoio disperato!		I die in despair,
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!		But never have I loved life so much

Tosca
Jonas Kaufmann - E lucevan le stelle

"E lucevan le stelle" ("And the stars were shining") is a romantic aria from the third act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca from 1900, composed to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is sung in act 3 by Mario Cavaradossi (tenor), a painter in love with the singer Tosca, while he waits for his execution on the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo.

Written in B minor, it is one of the most famous opera arias. The vocal range extends from F♯₃ to A₄. The aria is considered part of the spinto tenor repertoire. 

The aria is introduced by a somber clarinet solo. The incipit of the melody (heard in outline earlier in the act, as the sky lightens and the gaoler prepares for the execution) is repeated on the lines "O dolci baci, o languide carezze" ("Oh, sweet kisses and languorous caresses"), and also restated in forte in the closing bars of the opera, as Tosca jumps from the ramparts.

Luciano Pavarotti
E lucevan le stelle / Tosca

Jonas Kaufmann - E lucevan le stelle