Tue-I. Welcome to Contralto Tuesday!

Lovely picture of Zaragoza, Spain - Story Location of Il Trovatore

THE MOST FAMOUS CONTRALTO ARIA: 

VERDI  "STRIDE LA VAMPA" from IL TROVATORE

Today we will take a close look at the contralto. What immediately comes to mind is the role of the wild-eyed gypsy Azucena in Verdi's  Il Trovatore and the catchy tune she sings in the middle of the Anvil Chorus called "Stride la Vampa" or "Stoke the Fire". Traditionally it is a contralto aria, but we will see a couple of mezzo-sopranos sing it, including (are you ready for the surprise?) Maria Callas!

As far as the story of the opera goes, we have not gone very far from Seville. We're still in Spain, but a bit more north in 15th Century Zaragoza. The plot of Il Trovatore is like a Bollywood movie. Two babies are secretly switched at birth, The real son of the gypsy Azucena is raised up as the Count di Luna and the real Count di Luna is raised up as the gypsy's son Manrico, a troubador (trovatore). Both are rivals in love (of course) with the beautiful Leonora. Well, neither of them know about the switch, and they duel, maim, and fight until the very end. Count di Luna ends up burning his own mother at the stake for being a witch. Leonora becomes a nun. Well, this is not an opera for kids. Get the full bloody story of Il Trovatore by clicking on the name.

To introduce this aria, I would like to start with the famous opening of Act 2 popularly called the "Anvil Chorus". You will recognize the tune as it has been used in countless commercials. The gypsy blacksmiths sing to the rhythmic accompaniment of their anvils. Go directly to YouTube and see this traditional and fabulous performance at the NY Metropolitan Opera conducted by Levine the way it should be done:

Click-Here-The-Anvil-Chorus Turn up the speakers and sing along! After the chorus finishes their song, a wild-eyed gypsy woman will start singing. When she finishes singing you'll hear the audience applaud her performance and the gypsies finish their song. .

Here are the lyrics to the main song:

THE ANVIL CHORUS  

by Giuseppe Verdi

Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie
de' cieli sveste l'immensa volta;
sembra una vedova che alfin si toglie
i bruni panni ond'era involta.
All'opra! all'opra!
Dagli, martella!
(Danno di piglio ai ferri del mestiere.)
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?
La zingarella!
Versami un tratto; lena e coraggio
il corpo e l'anima traggon dal bere.
Oh guarda, guarda! del sole un raggio
brilla piu vivido nel tuo bicchiere.
All'opra! all'opra!
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?
La zingarella!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
See! The huge vault of heaven
discards night's dark mantle,
like some widow who sets aside at last
the weeds in which she wrapped herself.
To work, to work!
Go to it, hammer away!
(taking up their hammers and setting to work at anvils.)
Who is it cheers the gipsy's days?
The gipsy girl!
Pour me a draught; wine lends
body and soul courage and vigour.
See, a sunbeam sparkles
more brilliant in your glass.
To work, to work!
Who is it cheers the gypsy's days?
The gypsy girl!

Now here are the lyrics to Azucena's aria: "Stride la Vampa"

STRIDE LA VAMPA

Sung by Azucena

 

 Stride la vampa! -
la folla indomita
corre a quel fuoco -
lieta in sembianza;
urli di gioia -
intorno echeggiano:
cinta di sgherri -
donna s' avanza!
Sinistra splende -
sui volti orribili

la tetra fiamma -
che s'alza al ciel!
Stride la vampa!
giunge la vittima
nerovestita, -
discinta e scalza!

Grido feroce -
di mortr levasi;
l' eco il ripete -
di balza in balza!
Sinistra splende -
sui volti orribili

la tetra fiamma -
che s'alza al ciel!

STRIDE LA VAMPA - English translation

The crackling flame fizzles!
the unyielding crowd
runs to that fire -
happy in countenance;

Merry shouts
echo all around;
escorted by guards
a woman makes forth!
Sombre shines
on that terrible faces
the gloomy flame
that reaches up to the sky!
The crackling flame fizzles!
The victim arrives,
clad in black,
half-dressed, barefoot!

A ferocious cry
of death rises.
the echo repeats
it all along the cliffs!
Sombre shines
on that terrible faces
the gloomy flame
that reaches up to the sky

OK Here it goes. I hate to admit it, but I cannot identify who is singing the role of Azuncena here. Our YouTube host (who was very kind to post this video) did not leave us any names! Maybe we can find this out later. Keep an eye out for the tenor playing Manrico, that may be the clue we need,

In the next couple of posts, we shall compare and contrast the different Azucenas. We'll try to go for the contraltos first, and maybe some notable mezzos as we go along.