Our favourite cabaletta

[Schigolch]

This feature of Italian Romantic Opera has always been loved by the audience.

Some of them, like "Di Quella Pira" or "Sempre libera" are indeed among the most popular operatic pieces of all time.

Which are our favourites cabalettas?

I love so many.... This one is very special for me, I've listened it often... perhaps, even too often.

[Anne of Green Gables]

First ones to come to my mind are these:









All great stuff.

Donizetti was pretty good with closing whole operas in such manner, like in Anna Bolena or Roberto Devereux.

[Schigolch]

In this thread, there is a definition of what a "cabaletta" is:

http://operalively.com/forums/showth...aletta#post897

[MAuer]

I think this may qualify:



In any case, it's another example of Kaufmann's singing triumphing over a goofy staging "concept."

[Schigolch]

This is "A brani, a brani o perfido", sung by the soprano in the Second Act of Verdi's Luisa Miller. Wurm, the bad guy, in love with Luisa forces her to write a letter announcing their engagement, or he will torture her father, already in prison under orders from Count Walter. It comes after the splendid cantabile "Tu puniscimi o signore":



Luisa

A brani, a brani, o perfido
il cor tu m'hai squarciato!
Almen t'affretta a rendermi
il padre, il padre sventurato.
Di morte il fero brivido
tutta m'invade omai.
Mi chiuda almeno i rai
la man del genitore!

WURM
Coraggio: il tempo è farmaco
d'ogni cordoglio umano.
Di stringer la tua mano
speranza nutro ancor.



This is the beautiful Katia Ricciarelli, still in a reasonably good vocal shape, though with problems ascending to the B flat in "tuttaaaa".

[rgz]

Ah! Non giunge is a favorite, although it so often is turned into a coloratura showpiece that focuses on flashiness instead of the expression of joy it should be.

This is about as by-the-book version as is possible and is a great rendition (although the conducting is a out to lunch with a very inconsistent tempo):