LUCIA POPP: "Non Più Di Fiori" (Her Last Recording)

There's a story told on page 24 of Ursula Tamussino's book. September 1965 in Vienna, Lucia Popp "cracked" in one of the Queen of the Night arias and got depressed. Lucia was in such state of despair and on the point of giving up singing and going back to Bratislava, but was talked out of it by Fritz Wunderlich.

Imagine what favor that nature's wonder, Fritz Wunderlich, granted to the world, by saving Lucia Popp for her art. Listen to her, the very last recording of LUCIA POPP, "Non Più Di Fiori" and try to imagine opera's history without her. No way! Thank you Fritz!!

Lucia Popp

LUCIA POPP sings Song to the Moon by A. Dvorak

Watch and listen Lucia Popp singing Song to the Moon for the gala reopening of the Zurich Opera House 1984. More about great Lucia Popp in my other blog post, here.

In the beginning of the aria, Dvorak uses large arpeggiated chords to invite the audience into the fairy tale land of Rusalka. The good-natured old Spirit of the Lake, Jezibab, is enjoying the singing of the Wood Nymphs, when his daughter, Rusalka, approaches him sadly. She tells him that she has fallen in love with a handsome young prince and wishes to become human in order to know the bliss of union with him. Deeply saddened, the Spirit of the Lake consents to her request, and leaves. All alone, Rusalka sings this beautiful aria, confiding in the moon the secrets of her longing.

Silver moon upon the deep dark sky,
Through the vast night pierce your rays.
This sleeping world you wander by,
Smiling on men's homes and ways.

Oh moon ere past you glide, tell me,
Tell me, oh where does my loved one bide?
Oh moon ere past you glide, tell me
Tell me, oh where does my loved one bide?

Tell him, oh tell him, my silver moon,
Mine are the arms that shall hold him,
That between waking and sleeping he may
Think of the love that enfolds him,

May between waking and sleeping
Think of the love that enfolds him.
Light his path far away, light his path,
Tell him, oh tell him who does for him stay!
Human soul, should it dream of me,
Let my memory wakened be.

Moon, moon, oh do not wane, do not wane,
Moon, oh moon, do not wane....

BTW, this is the song that gorgeous Italian-Croatian soprano, Vedrana Zerav put on her repertoire recently

Lucia Popp & Gundula Janowitz: "Sull' aria" from "Le Nozze di Figaro"

Two amazing voices blending perfectly! Lucia Popp and Gundula Janowitz in "Le Nozze di Figaro" conducted by Georg Solti at Paris Opera Garnier in 1980.
The very famous stage production by Giorgio Strelher.

This is one of favourite Mozart's Opera Arias. The most beautiful tunes! Such a simple, crystal clean melody but magnificent! This is like two angels sing...

Lucia Popp: Laudate Dominum (Mozart) (Lyrics) (Translation)

I cannot help myself - Mozart's Laudate Dominum is, for my ear, my heart and my taste an absolute perfection. This version is a tad too slow for my taste but, gosh, Lucia Popp's  voice feels like an angel came from heavens to sing it for us...

Recorded in London, 1967 with Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra under Georg Fischer (who, incidentally, was Lucia's first husband)

Laudate Dominum Lyrics
Laudate Dominum omnes gentes;Laudate eum, omnes populi.Quoniam confirmata estSuper nos misericordia ejus,Et veritas Domini manet in aeternum. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper.Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Laudate Dominum English Translation


Praise the Lord, all nations;
Praise Him, all people.
For He has bestowed
His mercy upon us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever,
and for generations of generations.
Amen.

Mozart: Laudate Dominum; Vespers & Litanies

Should you wish to check out Victoria de los Angeles Laudate Dominum, just follow the link.

When I think about it, what about Emma Kirkby's Laudate Dominum?