Vesti la giubba

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Vesti la Giubba (Put on the costume) is a famous tenor aria performed as part of the opera Pagliacci, written and composed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo, and first performed in 1892. Vesti la Giubba is the conclusion of the first act, where Canio (Pagliaccio) discovers his wife's infidelity, but must prepare for performance as the 'show must go on'. It is often incorrectly referred to as "Ridi Pagliaccio", the first words of the chorus, which is the most famous part of the aria.

Since the operas first performance in 1892, this aria in particular has ingrained itself well into popular culture, and has often been featured in many renditions, mentions, and spoofs over the years. Many movies feature a mob boss listening to this music while killing off his enemies.
The recording by Enrico Caruso on a 78 RPM shellac record was the first million-selling record in history.

Contents

[edit] Lyrics

Original Italian [1]
Recitar! Mentre preso dal delirio,
non so più quel che dico,
e quel che faccio!
Eppur è d'uopo, sforzati!
Bah! sei tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba,
e la faccia in farina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto;
in una smorfia il singhiozzo il dolor, Ah!
Ridi, Pagliaccio,
sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!
English Translation
To recite! While taken with delirium,
I no longer know what it is that I say,
or what it is that I am doing!
And yet it is necessary, force yourself!
Bah! Can't you be a man?
You are the Clown!
Put on the costume,
and the face in white powder.
The people pay, and laugh when they please.
and if Harlequin invites away Colombina
laugh, Clown, and everyone will applaud!
Change into laughs the spasms of pain;
into a grimace the tears of pain, Ah!
Laugh, Clown,
about your broken love!
Laugh of the pain, that poisons your heart!

[edit] Media

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Translation from the Aria-Database.com http://www.aria-database.com/translations/pag05_vesti.txt
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