Six Nocturnes

Song Cycle by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)

View original-language texts alone: Sechs Nocturnos

1. Luci care
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Luci care, luci belle
Cari lumi amate stelle
Date calma a questo core.

Se per voi sospiro e moro
Idol mio, mio bel tesoro
Forza e solo del Dio d'amore.

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possibly by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
1. Dear lights
Language: English 
Dear lights, beautiful lights
Beloved lights, loving stars
That give peace to this heart.

If I sigh and suffer for you
My idol, my lovely treasure,
It is only from the force of love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2011 by Emily Romney, (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.
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This text was added to the website: 2011-08-03
Line count: 6
Word count: 34

Translation © by Emily Romney
2. Se lontan, ben mio, tu sei
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Se lontan, ben mio, tu sei
Sono eterni i dì per me,
Son momenti i giorni miei,
Idol mio, vicino a te.

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
2. If you are far away, my love
Language: English 
If you are far away, my love,
The days seem eternal for me,
My days are moments,
My idol, so close to you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2023 by Kendree Chen, (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.
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This text was added to the website: 2023-01-09
Line count: 4
Word count: 23

Translation © by Kendree Chen
3. Due pupille amabili
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Due pupille amabili
M'han piegato il core
E se pietà non chiedo
A quelle luci belle
Per quelle, sì per quelle,
Io morirò d'amore.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3.
Language: English 
Two sweet eyes
Have twisted my heart
And if I do not beg for mercy
In those beautiful lights
For those, yes for those,
I will die of love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2023 by Kendree Chen, (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.
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This text was added to the website: 2023-01-09
Line count: 6
Word count: 29

Translation © by Kendree Chen
4. Più non si trovano
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Più non si trovano
Tra mille amanti
Sol due bell'anime
Che sian costanti,
E tutti parlano
Di fedeltà!

E il reo costume
Tanto s'avanza
Che la costanza
Di chi ben ama
Ormai si chiama 
semplicità.

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
4. Amongst a thousand lovers
Language: English 
Amongst 
  a thousand lovers,
no more can even one pair
of constant lovers be found,
yet everyone talks 
  of faithfulness!

And base custom 
  has advanced itself
so insidiously that 
fidelity from an earnest lover 
is now termed 
  "naïveté."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2018 by Andrew Schneider, (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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Il gruppetto" = "Turns"
"Più non si trovano" = "Amongst a thousand lovers"



This text was added to the website: 2018-04-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 38

Translation © by Andrew Schneider
5. Ecco quel fiero istante
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Ecco quel fiero istante:
  Nice, mia Nice, addio.
  Come vivrò ben mio,
  Così lontan da te?
    Io vivrò sempre in pene,
  Io non avrò più bene: 
  E tu, chi sa se mai
  Ti sovverrai di me! 

 ...

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
5. The departure
Language: English 
Now comes the painful instant
Nice, my Nice, goodbye,
How can I live, my love
So far away from you!
My live will be a burden
Without any happiness
And you, who knows if ever
You will remember me.

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2003 by Johann Gaitzsch, (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.
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 59

Translation © by Johann Gaitzsch
6. Mi lagnerò tacendo
 (Sung text)

Subtitle: Notturno

Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Mi lagnerò tacendo 
Della mia sorte avara
Ma ch'io non t'ami, o cara, 
Non lo sperar da me.

Crudel, in che t'offendo
Se resta a questo petto
Il misero diletto
Di sospirar per te?

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
6. The reproach
Language: English 
 In silence I will complain
 About my bitter fate
 But not to love you, dear,
 do not hope to obtain that from me.

 Cruel one, why do you still
 Let me suffer like this? 
 You are cruel!
 do not wish it upon me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2003 by Johann Gaitzsch, (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.
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Note: this is a translation of Rossini's settings.



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Johann Gaitzsch