Mattinata (Leoncavallo)

Not to be confused with the songs of the same name byOttorino RespighiandPaolo Tosti.

"Mattinata"(Italian pronunciation:[mattiˈnaːta];English: "Morning" ) was the first song ever written expressly for theGramophone Company(the present dayEMI). Composed byRuggero Leoncavalloin 1904, it was dedicated toEnrico Caruso,who was the first to record it in April, 1904 with the composer at the piano. Ever since, the piece has been a concert favourite of tenors.Emilio Pericolirecorded a cover version for Warner Brother Records in 1964.

The Costa Rican band Gaviota recorded a Spanish version in 1982, for CBS Indica Records; the arrangement was the work ofCarlos Guzmán Bermúdez.

More than a half-century later, the song was recorded by the Italian-born tenorSergio Franchion his American-debut album,Romantic Italian Songs(RCA Victor Red Seal,1962).In only three months, Franchi's album of mostly Neapolitan favorites songs placed number seventeen on theBillboard Top 200.Thirty-six years later (eight years after Franchi's death) the same album placed number one hundred sixty-seven on theBillboard200.

Text

Italian

L'aurora di bianco vestita
Già l'uscio dischiude al gran sol;
Di già con le rosee sue dita
Carezza de' fiori lo stuol!
Commosso da un fremito arcano
Intorno il creato già par;
E tu non-ti desti, ed invano
Mi sto qui dolente a cantar.

Metti anche tu la veste bianca
E schiudi l'uscio al tuo cantor!
Ove non-sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l'amor.

Ove non-sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l'amor.

English translation

The dawn, dressed in white,
has already opened the door to the sun,
and caresses the flowers with its pink fingers.
A mysterious trembling seems to disturb all nature.
And yet you will not get up, and vainly
I stand here sadly singing.

Dress yourself also in white,
and open the door to your serenader!
Where you are not, there is no light;
where you are, love is born.

Where you are not, there is no light;
where you are, love is born.

Recordings (Youtube)

1. Giuseppe di StefanoonYouTube
2. Jussi BjörlingonYouTube
3. Enrico CarusoonYouTube
4. Beniamino GiglionYouTube
5. Giovanni MartinellionYouTube
6. Jan PeerceonYouTube
7. Mario LanzaonYouTube
8. Alfredo KrausonYouTube
9. Plácido DomingoonYouTube
10. Luciano PavarottionYouTube
11. José CarrerasonYouTube
12. Joan SutherlandonYouTube
13. Mario del MonacoonYouTube
14. Jovanotti & PavarottionYouTube
15. Tito BeltránonYouTube
16. Il VoloonYouTube
17. Sergio FranchionYouTube
18. Petrus SchroderusonYouTube

Scores

• IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library