The "Lamento di Federico", "È la solita storia del pastore", is a famous aria

Aria

An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...

 taken from act II of the opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

 L'arlesiana

L'arlesiana

L'arlesiana is an opera in three acts by Francesco Cilea to an Italian libretto by Leopoldo Marenco. It was originally written in four acts, and was first performed on 27 November 1897 at the Teatro Lirico di Milano in Milan...

by Francesco Cilea

Francesco Cilea

Francesco Cilea was an Italian composer. Today he is particularly known for his operas L'arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur.-Biography:...

. It is sung by Federico, who is deeply in love with a girl from Arles, the Arlesiana of the title, but his family has arranged his marriage with Vivetta. Vivetta has always loved Federico since childhood and is disappointed to know of his love for l'Arlesiana. When he has been left alone, Federico reads the letters of l'Arlesiana and ponders them with his broken heart.

The aria is famous for tenor

Tenor

The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...

s and has been recorded by Enrico Caruso, Tito Schipa

Tito Schipa

Tito Schipa was an Italian tenor. He is considered one of the finest tenori di grazia in operatic history...

, Alfredo Kraus

Alfredo Kraus

Alfredo Kraus Trujillo was a distinguished Spanish tenor of partly Austrian descent, particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto roles...

, Plácido Domingo

Plácido Domingo

Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...

, Luciano Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti

right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...

, José Carreras

José Carreras

Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...

, Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....

and many others.

Libretto

È la solita storia del pastore... Il povero ragazzo voleva raccontarla E s'addormì. C'è nel sonno l’oblio. Come l'invidio! Anch'io vorrei dormir così, nel sonno almen l'oblio trovar! La pace sol cercando io vo'. Vorrei poter tutto scordar! Ma ogni sforzo è vano. Davanti ho sempre di lei il dolce sembiante. La pace tolta è solo a me. Perché degg'io tanto penar? Lei! Sempre lei mi parla al cor! Fatale vision, mi lascia! Mi fai tanto male! Ahimè!

It’s the old tale of the shepherd... The poor boy wanted to retell it And he fell asleep. There is oblivion in sleep. How I envy him! I too would like to sleep like that To find oblivion at least in slumber! I am searching only for peace. I would like to be able to forget everything! Yet every effort is in vain. Before me I always have her sweet face. Peace is ever taken from me. Why must I suffer so very much? She, as always speaks to my heart. Fatal vision, leave me! You hurt me so deeply! Alas!

External links

• The Aria Database