The Venetian Regatta: Three Songs in Venetian Dialect

Translations © by Paolo Montanari

Song Cycle by Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (1792 - 1868)

View original-language texts alone: La regata veneziana: Tre canzoni in dialetto veneziano

1. Anzoleta avanti la regata
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian - Venetian (dialect) 
Là su la machina xe la bandiera,
varda, la vedistu, vala a ciapar.
Co quela tornime in qua sta sera,
o pur a sconderte ti pol andar.
In pope, Momolo, no te incantar.
Va, voga d'anema la gondoleta,
né el primo premio te pol mancar.
Va là, recordite la to Anzoleta
che da sto pergolo te sta a vardar.
In pope, Momolo, no te incantar.
In pope, Momolo, cori a svolar.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: machina = a wood stage adorned with baroque statues, mounted between Palazzo Balbi and Ca' Foscari (at the end ot the race route), in the occasion of the Regatta, where the Venitian authorities take seat and where the prizes are awarded.

by Francesco Maria Piave (1810 - 1876)
1. Anzoleta before the regatta
Language: English 
There on the "machina" is the flag,
look, can you see it?, go for it!
Come back with it tonight
or else you can run away and hide.
Once in the boat, Momolo, don't gawp!
Row the gondola with heart and soul,
then you cannot help but win the first prize.
Go, think of your Anzoleta,
who's whatching you from this balcony.
Once in the boat, Momolo, don't gawp!
Once in the boat, Momolo, fly!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian - Venetian (dialect) to English copyright © 2003 by Paolo Montanari, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2004-03-01
Line count: 11
Word count: 75

Translation © by Paolo Montanari
2. Anzoleta co passa la regata
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian - Venetian (dialect) 
I xe qua, i xe qua, vardeli, vardeli,
povereti i ghe da drento,
ah contrario tira el vento,
i gha l'acqua in so favor.

El mio Momolo dov'elo?
ah lo vedo, el xe secondo.
Ah! che smania! me confondo,
a tremar me sento el cuor.

Su, coragio, voga, voga,
prima d'esser al paleto
se ti voghi, ghe scometo,
tutti indrio ti lassarà.

Caro, caro, par che el svola,
el li magna tuti quanti
meza barca l'è andà avanti,
ah capisso, el m'a vardà.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: paleto = a pole planted in the Canal Grande, at Santa Chiara's, around which the racers turn to aim at the goal.

by Francesco Maria Piave (1810 - 1876)
2. Anzoleta when the regatta passes
Language: English 
They're coming, they're coming, look, look at them,
the poor things!, they row hard!
ah, the wind is against them,
but the tide is running their way.
 
My Momolo, where is he?
ah! I see him, he's the second,
Ah! I'm in a fidget! I get confused,
I feel my heart trembling.
 
Come on, row!, row!,
before you reach the pole,
if you keep on rowing, I'll lay a bet
you'll leave all the others behind.
 
Dear boy, he seems to be flying,
he's beating the others hollow,
he's gone half a length ahead,
ah, I understand: he looked at me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian - Venetian (dialect) to English copyright © 2003 by Paolo Montanari, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2004-03-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 101

Translation © by Paolo Montanari
3. Anzoleta dopo la regata
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian - Venetian (dialect) 
Ciapa un baso, un altro ancora,
caro Momolo, de cuor;
qua destrachite che xe ora
de sugarte sto sudor.

Ah t'o visto co passando
su mi l'ocio ti a butà
e go dito respirando:
un bel premio el ciaparà,

sì, un bel premio in sta bandiera,
che xe rossa de color;
gha parlà Venezia intiera,
la t'a dito vincitor.

Ciapa un baso, benedeto,
a vogar nissun te pol,
de casada, de tragheto
ti xe el megio barcarol.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

by Francesco Maria Piave (1810 - 1876)
3. Anzoleta after the regatta
Language: English 
Have a kiss!, another one!,
dear Momolo, from my heart;
rest here, for it's high time
to dry this sweat.
 
Ah, I saw you when, as passing,
you threw a glance at me
and I said, breathing again:
he's going to win a good prize,
 
indeed, the prize of this flag,
that is the red one;
the whole Venice spoke:
she declared you the winner.
 
Have a kiss, God bless you!,
no one rows better than you,
of all the breeds of gondoliers
you're the best.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian - Venetian (dialect) to English copyright © 2003 by Paolo Montanari, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2004-03-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 86

Translation © by Paolo Montanari