William Wu (吳文修) sings "Di quella pira (熊熊烈焰)" 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 Who’s Who in Opera, The New York Times, 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 “Di quella pira” from “Il Trovatore” by Verdi:
"Di quella pira” (of that pyre) is a short tenor aria sung by Manrico in act 3, scene 2 of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore. In a chamber adjoining the chapel at Castellor, Leonora and Manrico vow their love for each other. After Manrico's aria "Ah sì, ben mio coll'essere" (Ah, yes, my love, in being yours), they are about to take their marriage vows. However, Ruiz, Manrico's comrade, suddenly returns to report that Manrico's mother Azucena is to be burned at the stake. Manrico calls together his soldiers and sings of how they will save Azucena from death: "Di quella pira l'orrendo foco tutte le fibre m'arse, avvampò!..." (The horrible blaze of that pyre burned, enflamed all of my being!...)
* 威爾第歌劇《遊唱詩人》的男高音詠嘆調「熊熊烈焰」的劇情概要:
第三幕第二景是發生在軍營裡。曼里柯和蕾奧諾拉正在準備舉行婚禮，唱著「啊，我的摯愛」。突然傳訊者路易茲傳來阿祖契娜(曼里柯之母)落在魯拿伯爵之手、即將被處火刑的消息。曼里柯激動地唱出「熊熊烈焰」，旋即前往營救，並安慰蕾奧諾拉。[後記] 曼里柯戰敗被處火刑，也將被處火刑的阿祖契娜瘋狂大叫，道出曼里柯正是魯拿伯爵弟弟的真相，終於為也被魯拿伯爵燒死的女巫母親報了仇。原來阿祖契娜當年為了替母親報仇，偷走了魯拿伯爵的幼兒弟弟並把他養大。
* Italian lyrics of “Di quella pira” from “Il Trovatore” by Verdi:
Di quella pira l'orrendo foco
Tutte le fibre m'arse avvampò!...
Empi spegnetela, o ch'io tra poco
Col sangue vostro la spegnerò...
Era già figlio prima d'amarti
Non può frenarmi il tuo martir.
Madre infelice, corro a salvarti,
O teco almeno corro a morir!
* English translation of the lyrics of “Di quella pira (of that pyre)” from “Il Trovatore” by Verdi:
From that pyre the horrendous fire
All the fibres burned me! ...
Turn it off, or I'll shortly
Extinguish it with your blood ...
He was already a son before he loved you
Your martyr cannot stop me.
Unhappy mother, I run to save you,
Or at least I'm running to death!
* 威爾第歌劇《遊唱詩人》的男高音詠嘆調「熊熊烈焰」歌詞中譯:
從那堆木柴燃起熊熊烈火，
也燃起我的熊熊怒火！ ...
快熄掉它! 否則我馬上會用你的血把它撲滅!
我在愛妳(蕾奧諾拉)之前就已是她(阿祖契娜)兒子，
妳的痛苦並不能阻止我的行動。
可憐的媽媽，我跑來救妳了，
或者我也跑來赴死了！
(蕾奧諾拉)
我受不了這種致命的打擊…
哦，死了會好得多！
(路易茲與士兵合唱)
我們這就武裝起來，武裝起來！
與你並肩作戰，與你同歸於盡。