[woodsyi]

Passionate Floria Tosca sings her heart out and the noble Mario Cavaradossi is distracted.  Does that sound like a typical man or what? 


Consider the words in the middle of Mario, Mario, Mario!  Son Qui!.

TOSCA
...Do you not long for our little house
That is waiting for us, hidden in the grove?
Our refuge, sacred to us and unseen by the world,
Protected with love and mystery?
Oh, at your side to listen there
To the voices of the night
As they rise through the starlit,
Shadowed silences:
From the woods, from the thickets
And the dry grass, from the depths
Of shattered tombs
Scented with thyme,
The night murmurs
Its thousand loves
And false counsels
To soften and seduce the heart.
Oh wide fields, blossom! and sea winds throb
In the moon's radiance, ah,
Rain down desire you vaulted stars!
Tosca burns with a mad love!

CAVARADOSSI
Ah! Sorceress, 1 am bound in your toils …

TOSCA
Tosca's blood burns with a mad love!

CAVARADOSSI
Sorceress, I will come!

[no1maestro]

Two come quickly to mind. In Boheme the search for the key scene has always been a favorite. The second is the finale of act one of Walkure with Siegmund and Sieglinde (Wintersturm) with some of Wagner's biggest love themes. Given time I would list another twenty or so but that's it for now. Thanks for the opportunity!

[woodsyi]

In Boheme the search for the key scene has always been a favorite.

Ah, yes.  Che gelida manina is one of my shower songs.   I used to imagine that I would spring this aria on a pretty girl if the right moment came along on a cold day...   

I grew up listening to this EMI recording featuring Stefano, Callas and Moffo.  I still like Stefano's version the best. 

[woodsyi]

Can anyone resist the seduction of a Delilah when she sings Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix (My heart opens to your voice) which ends with an invitation, Verse-moi, verse-moi l'ivresse or "fill me with ecstasy" in English?

[goldlizsts]

My favorites are from the Turandot scene where Liu utters her love/dedication to her master in Signore Ascolta, and then her master Calaf tries to comfort her with his Non Piangere Liu.  Being a lowly maid, Liu's love is never-to-be; and Calaf as the master isn't smart enough to return her love  'cos he has loftier goals. .....

[woodsyi]

Interesting that you would pick an unrequited lover's duet.  

I like the Scotto-Corelli and Tibaldi-Bjorling recordings. 

Another unrequited "love" song comes to mind and that is Micaela's song from Carmen.  I mean her prayer for protection is not just from the bandits and the rough terrain.  She wants to rescue José from the evil clutches of Carmen and she fears her.  It's a quintessential ingénue role just like Liu.

[goldlizsts]

Interesting that you would pick an unrequited lover's duet.   ........................

Yes sir, there is a reason why to my selection.  Non Piangere Liu was one of the very first arias I had to learn when I was taking voice lessons, in the silly old days when I was enthusiased with singing in a chorus (go figure!).

[jimdgoulding]

Nice thread and responses for we sentimental types.  I'll be pullin out my Caballe's Lui shortly.  I remember it with great affection.

[acidaho]

 From La Traviata....I love the scene where Violetta is pining over Alfredo (so sad and longing) and she hears him faintly singing in the distance. I love her .....Ooohhh! reaction and the change of temp from sadness to total happiness.

[decal]

The hauntingly prophetic "You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw"

[jimdgoulding]

The hauntingly prophetic "You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw"

Spooky Tooth, right?

[decal]

You are correct sir.