"Una furtiva lagrima" Sung by Enrico Caruso in 1911 for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Una furtiva lagrima (A furtive tear) is the romanza taken from Act II, Scene VIII of the Italian opera, L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti. It is sung by Nemorino (tenor) when he finds that the love potion he bought to win his dream lady’s heart, Adina, works.

Nemorino is in love with Adina, but she isn't interested in a relationship with an innocent, rustic man. To win her heart, Nemorino buys a “love potion” with all the money he has in his pocket. The “love potion” is actually a cheap red wine sold by a traveling con man. But when he sees Adina weeping, he knows that she has fallen in love with him and the “Elixir” works.

Contents 1 Libretto 2 In popular culture 3 External links 4 References

[edit] Libretto

Italian

Translation in English

Una furtiva lagrima negli occhi suoi spuntò: Quelle festose giovani invidiar sembrò. Che più cercando io vo? Che più cercando io vo? M'ama! Sì, m'ama, lo vedo. Lo vedo. Un solo instante i palpiti del suo bel cor sentir! I miei sospir, confondere per poco a' suoi sospir! I palpiti, i palpiti sentir, confondere i miei coi suoi sospir... Cielo! Si può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Ah, cielo! Si può! Si, può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Si può morire! Si può morir d'amor.

One furtive secret tear from her eyes did spring: as if those youths who can be playful it ( or she ) seemed to be envious of. What more searching do I want? What more searching do I want? She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it. Just for an instant the beats of her beautiful heart if I could feel! My sighs if they were mingled for a while with her sighs! The beats, the beats of her heart if I could feel, to fuse my sighs with hers... Heavens! Yes, I could die! I ask for nothing more, nothing. Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die! I ask for nothing more, nothing. Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.

[edit] In popular culture

A recording by Enrico Caruso features prominently in the movie Match Point, directed by Woody Allen.

This aria is used frequently in the Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still OVA series when referencing to the Tragedy of Bashtarle, a key event prior to the main story.

This song is also featured in the independent film "Two Lovers" with Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow.

In Pasolini's Mamma Roma, a group of young slackers is singing this aria to Ettore.

A muffled rendition of this song can be heard in the background as the disillusioned Captain Yossarian, played by Alan Arkin, aimlessly wanders the streets of war ravaged Rome in the movie Catch-22.

The character Jake Fratrelli, played by Robert Davi, sings a part of this aria in the feature film, The Goonies.

This aria is also recently featured in episode "Earthling" of Fox's hit television show Fringe

[edit] External links

• Score and Libretto
• Plácido Domingo singing "Una furtiva lagrima"
• Nicolai Gedda singing "Una furtiva lagrima"
• Pavarotti in act II L'elisir d'amore singing "Una furtiva lagrima"
• Enrico Caruso singing "Una furtiva lagrima"
• Mario Lanza singing "Una furtiva lagrima"
• "Una furtiva lagrima" with Jussi Björling

[edit] References

• The Aria Database