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Claudia, The Opera Critic
age: 12 years
E Lucevan Le Stelle. And The Stars Were Shining.
Sung by the tenor, Luciano Pavarotti
This aria is from the opera Tosca by composer Giacomo Puccini. It was first performed in Rome in 1899. The story takes place in Rome. 'Tosca' is the name of the leading lady in the story.
This aria is sung in the final part of the opera by the character called Mario Cavaradossi. He is an artist and in love with Tosca. A powerful man called Baron Scarpia has accused the artist of being his enemy and has locked him in the prison called il Castel Sant'Angelo.
The poor artist is told that he will be executed in one hour's time. Whilst he is imprisoned on the top floor of il Castel Sant' Angelo, he looks up at the night sky. He sees the shining stars and he sings this famous and powerful aria of farewell to the world and to Tosca, the woman he loves.
The last part of the aria is as follows:
Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore. My dream of love has gone away forever.
L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato! The moment has vanished and I die in desperation!
E muoio disperato! And I die in desperation!
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita. And I have never loved life so much as I do now.
