Una furtiva lagrima - Romanza, from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera, L'Elisir d'Amore by Gaetano Donizetti
Role : Nemorino, a young peasant in love with Adina
Voice Part : tenor
Fach : tenor leggiero
Setting : The interior of Adina's house in an Italian village, 19th century
Range : F3 to G#/Ab4.
Tessitura : A#/Bb4 to G#/Ab4
Synopsis : Nemorino has just taken a second dose of love potion. Unbeknownst to him, he has just inherited a fortune and when he enters the room, he is flocked by the women in the room. Confident because of his dose of "love potion" (which is really just wine), he ignores them as well as his love Adina. Adina is hurt by this and leaves. Nemorino notices her unhappiness and realizes that she does care for him. He sings of his joy at finding that he is loved by her.
Listen to this digitally remastered version of a recording from the 1st of February 1904 (room 826, Carnegie Hall, NY) by Enrico Caruso:
English Translation:
A sullen and secretive tear
That started there in her eye...
Those socialising bright young things
Seemed to provoke its envy...
What more searching need I do?
She loves me, that I see.
For just one moment the beating
Of her hot pulse could be felt!..
CWith her sighing confounding
Momentarily my sighs!...
Oh God, I shall expire;
I can't ask for more.
