South Regional Library

In cooperation with

South West Florida Italian 0pera SocietyAnd Bellini Opera Theatre

 

 

Presents“The History of the Neapolitan Song” Songs interpreted by the three super

tenors, Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza and Luciano Pavarotti.

  

 'A MUSICA NAPULITANA           

   

Presented by Dino Valle, Artistic Director SW Florida Italian Opera and Bellini Opera Theatre.www.dinovalle.com

dinoopera@yahoo.com313-702-9264

 

 

 

 

  Presents

“The History of the Neapolitan Song”

         

A Typical Neighborhood and The Dance, the Tarantella  

   

 

 

 

 

 

Naples has played an important and vibrant role over the centuries not just in the music of Italy, but in the general history of western European musical traditions. This influence extends from

the early music conservatories in the 16th century through the music of

Alessandro Scarlatti during the Baroque period and the comic operas of Pergolesi, Piccinni and, eventually, Rossini and Mozart. The vitality of Neapolitan popular music from the late 19th

century has made such songs as 'O Sole mio and Funiculì Funiculà a permanent part of our

musical consciousness. Luciano Pavarotti won the 1980

Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance

for his rendition of 'O Sole Mio. 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Lucia”The song was written by Teodoro Cottrau and published in Naples in 1849. Cottrau himself

translated it into Italian during the Risorgimento, making it the first Neapolitan song translated into

Italian. A gesture to unify Italy, not only geographically, but also literally.

The lyrics celebrate the picturesque district of Saint Lucia on the bay of Naples. The song became a

national and international hit and was interpreted by famous performers as Enrico Caruso (1916) and Elvis

Presley (1957). 

    

 

 

 

 

“Funiculì, Funiculà" is a famous Neapolitan song written by Italian journalist Peppino Turco and set to music by Italian

composer Luigi Denza in 1880. It was composed to commemorate the opening of the first funicular cable car on

Mount Vesuvius. The 1880 cable car was later destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 1944. The song was sung for the first

time in the Quisisana Hotel in Castellammare di Stabia and met with huge success. It was presented by Turco and Denza at the Piedigrotta festival during the same year. Edward Oxenford, an

English songwriter and translator of libretti, published a version which became somewhat traditional in English-speaking

countries. 

      

 

 

 

 

“O sole mio" is a globally known Neapolitan song written in 1898. It was made popular by Enrico Caruso,

Beniamino Gigli, Mario Lanza, The Canadian Tenors, and The Three Tenors, as well as rock/pop artists such

as Bryan Adams, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Vitas (who sings it in a high countertenor range),

Al Bano, and Elvis Presley (It's Now or Never). Luciano Pavarotti won the 1980

Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for his rendition of 'O Sole Mio. Though there are versions in other languages, 'O sole mio is usually sung in the

original Neapolitan language. 'O sole mio is the Neapolitan equivalent of Standard Italian Il sole mio

and translates literally as "My Sun" (not "Oh My Sun"). 

 

    

 

 

   

1. Cottrau, Santa Lucia2. D’Esposito, Anema e Core3. De Curtis, Torna a Surrento4. Di Capua, O’ Sole Mio5. Toto, Malafemmena6. Gambardella, O’Marenariello7. Cardillo, Core ngrato8.  Denza, Funiculi’ Funicula  

 

 

..

 

PROGRAM

Cottrau, Santa Lucia

It is stated that Saint Lucy, Protector of the eyes was also the protector of a bay in

Naples, Santa Lucia, named after the Saint . She was a type of light house. It was the

first Neapolitan song translated to Italian.

Cottrau, Santa Lucia The original Text reads:

(NAP) « Comme se frícceca la luna chiena!lo mare ride,ll'aria è serena...E' pronta e lestala varca mia...Santa Lucia,Santa Lucia!t

Stu viento friscofa risciatare:chi vo' spassarsejenno pe mmare?Vuje che facite'mmiezo a la via?Santa Lucia,Santa Lucia!

La tènna è postape fa' 'na cena;e quanno stacela panza chienanon c'è la mínemamelanconia.Santa Lucia,Santa Lucia! »

(IT) « Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento;

placida è l'onda, The moon shines over the seaprospero il vento. The Wind is ProsperusVenite all'agile And the Waves are calmbarchetta mia! Come in my little BoatSanta Lucia, Santa LuciaSanta Lucia!

Con questo zeffiro With this Zepher(Wind)così soave so calm and gentleoh com'è bello How Beautiful it isstar sulla nave! To be in my little boatSu passaggeri, Come on Passengersvenite via! Come To Santa LuciaSanta Lucia,Santa Lucia!

In fra le tende Under the Canopybandir la cena supper is readyin una sera in a serene eveningcosì serena Is there anyone who chi non dimanda, doesn’t desire something chi non desia? Like thisSanta Lucia, Oh Sweet Napes oh Pleasant place, God smiled upon you- you are the greatest place on earth

D’Esposito, Anema e Core

De Curtis, Torna a

Surriento

Di Capua, O’ Sole Mio

Toto, Malafemmena

Gambardella, O’Marenariello

Cardillo, Core ngrato

Caruso singing Core ‘ngrato

Denza, Funiculi’

Funicula

 

 Bellini Opera Theatre of Michigan

Dino Valle, Artistic Director,

Giuliano Zuccato , Sculptor of the Bellini StatueKathy Valle, Technical Expert

Vincenzo Bellini