William Wu (吳文修) sings "Ah si, ben mio (啊，我的摯愛)" from "Il Trovatore (遊唱詩人)" by Verdi. Tokyo, 1981.

Maestro William Wu (吳文修教授, 1935-2009) was a primo dramatic tenor of the National Opera House in Berlin during 1973-79. His biography has been included in The New York Times Who’s Who in Opera since 1976, where he was further selected as one of the 50 leading classical singers in the world. His outstanding performance as Radames in Verdi’s Aida in Tokyo won him the 1984 Vienna World Opera Award. His faultless vocalization is mainly based upon anatomic physiology and modern sound science fascinating with uniquely perfect high notes and solid middle register. It is the profound feelings in the every note he sings that is particularly touching. Among his numerous students in Taiwan and Japan, baritone Te-Tsung Hsu (許徳崇) is one of the best and tenor Yun-Seng Giang (姜雲生) used to receive the most care.

For more nice-listening singing of Maestro William Wu, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/312817434432486

* Synopsis of “Ah! sì, ben mio” from “Il Trovatore” by Verdi:

In Act III, Scene 2, Leonora is preparing for her wedding to Manrico. She is frightened; the battle with di Luna is imminent and Manrico’s forces are outnumbered. He assures her of his love. Manrico will defend it as leader. He swears eternal faith to Leonora till death.

* 威爾第歌劇《遊唱詩人》的男高音詠嘆調「啊，我的摯愛」的劇情概要:

在第三幕第二景中，蕾奧諾拉正在準備她與曼里科的婚禮。她很害怕與魯納伯爵的戰鬥迫在眉睫，曼里科的軍隊將寡不敵眾。曼里科則向她保證他的愛。他作為軍隊領袖一定會捍衛婚禮。 他向蕾奧諾拉發誓：至死永遠忠誠。

* Italian lyrics of “Ah! sì, ben mio” from “Il Trovatore” by Verdi:

Ah! sì, ben mio, coll’essere
Io tuo, tu mia consorte,
Avrò più l’alma intrepida,
Il braccio avrò più forte;
Ma pur se nella pagina
De’ miei destini è scritto
Ch’io resti fra le vittime
Dal ferro ostil trafitto,
Fra quegli estremi aneliti
A te il pensier verrà
E solo in ciel precederti
La morte a me parrà!

* English translation of the lyrics of “Ah! sì, ben mio” from “Il Trovatore” by Verdi:

Ah! yes, my beloved,
by being I yours, you my consort,
I shall have a more intrepid soul,
My arm will be stronger;
But even if on the page
Of my destiny is written
That I remain among the victims
By hostile iron pierced,
Among those extreme longings
To you the thought will come
And only in heaven preceding you
Death will seem to me!

* 威爾第歌劇《遊唱詩人》的男高音詠嘆調「啊，我的摯愛」歌詞中譯:

啊! 是的，我的摯愛，
正因為我是妳的，妳也是我的，
我將擁有更勇敢的靈魂，
我的手臂將會更強壯。
即使我將成為被害者的命運已寫在頁面上，
即使我將被惡性的鐵器刺穿，
令妳在那極端的渴望中
浮現了死亡的念頭，
但對我而言，只有在妳面前的天堂裡，
才會把死亡當作一回事！