September 13, 1991
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Faculty Lecture Recital
Lloyd Linney, Soprano
Michael Rickman, Piano
8:00 P.M.
Elizabeth Hall
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO: AN OPERA FOR FIVE SOPRANOS
Cherubino, the Count's page
Non so piu cosa son, cosa faccio (written for Dorothea Bussani)
I don't know who I am or what 1 am doing.
One moment I'm on fire, then I am cold as ice.
Each woman makes me blush! Each woman makes me tremble!
Even at the mention of love, of delight, I am disturbed and my heart pounds.
I am forced to speak of love, a desire that I cannot explain.
I speak of love while awake and while asleep -
to the water, to the shadow, to the mountains, to the flowers, to the grass,
to the fountains, to the echo, to the air,
to the winds which carry away with them the sound of my futile words.
And if there is no one to hear me, I will speak of love to myself.
Countess Almaviva
Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro (written for Luisa Laschi)
Love, bestow some consolation to my sorrow, to my sighs.
Either restore my treasure to me, or at least allow me to die.
E Susanna non vien!... Dove sono, i bei momenti (written for Luisa Laschi)
Susanna not here? I am anxious to know how the Count received the
proposal. The plan seems rather daring to me with a husband so full
of spirit and jealousy. But what's the harm? Changing clothes with
those of Susanna and hers with mine under cover of night. Oh heaven,
to what lowly unfortunate condition I am reduced by a cruel consort,
who, with an incredible mixture of faithlessness, jealousy and disdain,
first loved, then insulted and finally betrayed, now makes me seek help
from my servant!
Where are the beautiful moments of sweetness and pleasure? Where are
the promises of those deceitful lips? Why has everything changed to
tears and grief? The memory of that happiness has not disappeared.
Ah! if only my constancy in loving might bring a hope of changing his ungrateful heart.
