La mamma morta explained
"Italian: La mamma morta|italics=no" (The dead mother) is a soprano aria from act 3 of the 1896 opera Andrea Chénier by Umberto Giordano. It is sung by the character Maddalena di Coigny to Gérard about how her mother died protecting her during the turmoils of the French Revolution. [1]
It was recorded in 1954 by Maria Callas. [2] This version used in the soundtrack to 1993 drama film Philadelphia. Subsequent notable recordings include Anna Netrebko in 2016. [3]
It was performed by ten-year old opera singer Emanne Beasha on the 2019 final of televised American talent show America's Got Talent season 14.
Libretto
La mamma morta m'hannoalla porta della stanza miaMoriva e mi salvava!poi a notte altaio con Bersi errava,quando ad un trattoun livido bagliore guizzae rischiara innanzi a' passi mieila cupa via!Guardo!Bruciava il loco di mia culla!Così fui sola!E intorno il nulla!Fame e miseria!Il bisogno, il periglio!Caddi malata,e Bersi, buona e pura,di sua bellezza ha fatto un mercato,un contratto per me!Porto sventura a chi bene mi vuole!Fu in quel doloreche a me venne l'amor!Voce piena d'armonia e diceVivi ancora! Io son la vita!Ne' miei occhi è il tuo cielo!Tu non sei sola!Le lacrime tue io le raccolgo!Io sto sul tuo cammino e ti sorreggo!Sorridi e spera! Io son l'amore!Tutto intorno è sangue e fango?Io son divino! Io son l'oblio!Io sono il dio che sovra il mondoscendo da l'empireo, fa della terraun ciel! Ah!Io son l'amore, io son l'amor, l'amorE l'angelo si accosta, bacia,e vi bacia la morte!Corpo di moribonda è il corpo mio.Prendilo dunque.Io son già morta cosaThey killed my motherat the door of my roomShe died and saved me.Later, at dead of night,I wandered with Bersi,when suddenlya bright glow flickersand lights were ahead of methe dark street!I looked –My childhood home was on fire!I was alone!surrounded by nothingness!Hunger and miserydeprivation, danger!I fell ill,and Bersi, so good and puremade a market, a deal, of her beautyfor me –I bring misfortune to all who care for me!It was then, in my grief,that love came to me.A voice full of harmony says,"Keep on living, I am life itself!Your heaven is in my eyes!You are not alone.I collect all your tearsI walk with you and support you!Smile and hope! I am Love!Are you surrounded by blood and mire?I am Divine! I am oblivion!I am the God above the worldI descend from the empyrean and make this EarthA heaven! Ah!I am love, love, love."And the angel approaches with a kiss,and he kisses death –A dying body is my body.So take it.I am already dead matter!
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: AGT operatic finalist Emanne Beasha stuns with ‘otherworldly’ rendition of ‘La mamma morta’ . 2024-11-06 . Classic FM . en.
- Web site: KernKonzepte . La mamma morta – Maria Callas, 1954 . 2024-11-06 . Opera Guide . en-US.
- Web site: Huizenga . Tom . 11 August 2016 . Deceptive Cadence . live . 6 November 2024 . NPR Classical.
