Opus 109

Song of the Week Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816) Il mio ben quando  verrà (When My Beloved Comes) from Nina, o sia La Pazza per Amore The Music I came across this beautiful aria several weeks ago when I found an old six vinyl set of the opera at an antique shop. At home, I put the music on (starting from Act I) and it mostly served as pleasant background music as I did other work. Once it came to "Il mio ben quando  verrà ", however, I had to just stop for a moment and appreciate the music. It context, Nina, the Count's daughter, is stricken with grief about her beloved, Lindoro, who seems to everyone else to have died. Nevertheless, she never fully accepts that he has died, and her song expresses hope for his return. (Spoiler - he didn't really die!) The Performance I think Bartoli's recording is notable both for the delicacy she brings to every melodic line and the anguish of Nina that she conveys (especially around the five minute mark, and at 6:10). The Text by...

Song of the Week Enrique Granados (1867-1916) La Maja Dolorosa No. 1 (The Forlorn Maiden) The Music      The first of three songs entitled "La Maja Dolorosa," this week's song comes from Granados' 12 Tonadillas en estilo antiguo, a set inspired by paintings of Francisco Goya (1746-1828). It's a shame that Granados did not write more art songs, since the Tonadillas are some of the finest examples of that genre to come from Spain. This song is particularly notable for the stark and dramatic atmosphere created by the piano's enigmatic harmonies. The Performance      There are not many performances of Granados' vocal music, but I figure any rendition by Teresa Berganza is going to be a solid choice. The Text Fernando Periquet (1873-1940) Spanish ¡Oh muerte cruel! ¿Por qué tú, a traición, mi majo arrebataste a mi pasión? ¡No quiero vivir sin él, porque es morir, porque es morir así vivir! No es posible ya sentir más dolor: en lágrimas deshecha ya mi alma está. ...