"", K. 612, is a concert aria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for solo bass with an obbligato double bass. Composed in Vienna, it is dated 8 March 1791 in Mozart's own catalogue. It is well known by players of the double bass, with difficult scale work and double stops. It may have been composed as an interlude in a performance of an opera buffa, written by another composer. The aria remains a popular and often performed concert piece today.[1]
The piece is in two sections; a slow 6/8 andante, finishing with an allegro in common time. The text is a romantic declaration of love. The aria is in the key of D major.
The original singer was Franz Xaver Gerl, who notably sung the roles of Don Giovanni, Figaro and Sarastro. The original double bass player was .
The work calls for one flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns in D, solo double bass, bass singer, and strings.[2]
The text of this aria is of unknown origin. It has been speculated that the libretto was from the comic opera (1784), written by Giambattista Neri; however, the two libretti are completely unrelated. The only similarities that they share are the opening four words "per questa bella mano", in Neri's libretto "per questa mano bella".[3]
L'aure, le piante, i sassi,Che i miei sospir ben sanno,A te qual sia dirannoLa mia costante fè.
Volgi lieti o fieri sguardi,Dimmi pur che m'odi o m'ami,Sempre acceso ai dolci dardi,Sempre tuo vo' che mi chiami,Nè cangiar può terra o cieloQuel desio che vive in me.
The breezes the plants, the stones,which know my sighs full well,will tell you how constantis my fidelity.
Turn your proud gaze happily on meand say whether you hate or love me!Ever inflamed by your tender glances,I want you to call me yours forever;neither earth nor heaven can changethat desire which dwells within me.
| Year | Singer and double bass player | Conductor and orchestra | Label[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Klaus Mertens, Ilka Emmert | Doris Hagel, Capella Weilburgensis | CD: Profil Cat: PH10036 |
| 2011 | Gustáv Beláček, David Sinclair | Didier Talpain, Solamente Naturali | CD: Brilliant Classics Cat: BC94116 |
| 2011 | Ildebrando D'Arcangelo | Gianandrea Noseda, Orchestra del Teatro Regio Torino | CD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat: 00028947792970 |
| 2018 | Ilya Mazurov, Grigory Krotenko | Maria Krestinskaya, Barocco Concertato | CD: Rubicon Classics Cat: DRC1023 |