William Wu (吳文修)：Un dì all'azzurro spazio (有一天我仰望藍天) fm "Andrea Chénier" by Giordano. Berlin, 1975.

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.

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

* Synopsis

In Act I of the verismo opera “Andrea Chénier,” (setting: palace of the Countess of Coigny, 1789), the Countess is holding a ball. Among the guests is the patriotic poet, Andrea Chénier.

The countess asks Chénier to improvise a poem but he says that inspiration has abandoned him. Maddalena, the Countess’ daughter, asks Chénier to recite a verse, but he refuses her also, saying “Fantasy is not commanded on cue.” The laughter of the girls draws the Countess’ attention, and Maddalena explains mockingly that the Muse of poetry is absent from the party. Chénier now becomes angry and improvises a poem about the suffering of the poor, ending with a tirade against those in power, shocking the guest. Maddalena begs forgiveness.

寫實歌劇「安德烈･謝尼耶」第一幕的佈景為1789法國大革命前的科尼伯爵夫人的宮殿；當時正在舉行舞會。瀟灑而廣受歡迎的愛國詩人安德烈･謝尼耶也是受邀賓客之一。

伯爵夫人請謝尼耶即興創作一首詩，但他說靈感已拋棄了他。伯爵夫人的女兒瑪妲蓮娜要求謝尼耶背誦一首詩，他也拒絕，並說：「幻想曲不是暗示或命令所能逼出來的。」女孩們爆笑；瑪妲蓮娜則嘲諷地說繆斯女詩神今天缺席了舞會。此時謝尼耶變得生氣，即興創作了一首述說窮人苦痛的詩歌，並強烈譴責教堂和國家當權者，震驚了全場賓客。瑪妲蓮娜深受感動，懇求原諒。

* Lyrics & Translation

* Un dì all'azzurro spazio

Colpito qui m'avete ov'io geloso celo il più puro palpitar dell'anima.
Or vedrete, fanciulla, qual poema è la parola "Amor," qui causa di scherno!
Un dì all'azzurro spazio guardai profondo, e ai prati col mi di viole,
piove va l'oro il sole, e folgorava d'oro il mondo;
parea la Terra un immane tesor, e a lei serviva di scrigno, il firmamento.
Su dalla terra a la mia fronte veniva una ca'rezza viva, un bacio.
Gridai, vinto d'amor: T'amo, tù che mi baci, divinamente bella, o patria mia!
E volli pien d'amore pregar! Varcai d'una chiesa la soglia;
là un prete nelle nicchie dei santi e de la Vergine, accumulava doni...
e al sordo orecchio un tremulo vegliardo invano chiedeva pane, e invan stenddea la mano!
Varcai degli abituri l'uscio; un uom vi calunniava bestemmiando il suolo
che l'erario a pena sazia e contro a Dio scagliava, e contro a li uomini le lagrime dei figli.
In cotanta miseria la patrizia prole, che fa?
Sol l'occhio vostro esprime umanamente qui, un guardo di pietà,
ond' io guardato ho a voi sì come a un angelo. E dissi: Ecco la bellezza della vita!
Ma, poi, alle vostre parole, un novello dolor, m'ha còlto in pieno petto...
O giovinetta bella, d'un poeta non disprezzate il detto:
Udite! Non conoscete amor. Amor, divino dono, no lo schernir. Del mondo anima e vita è l'Amor!

* One day I looked deep into the blue sky

You have struck me here where I jealously conceal the most pure beating of my soul.
Now you will see, young lady, how poetic can be the word "Love," which here has been laughed at!
One day as I walked alone neath the blue horizon, I saw the meadows and flowers.
I watched the sunlight beaming its golden rays on the mountains
until the earth seemed a treasure of gold reflecting all of its glory up to the heavens.
Up from the earth to my brow came a lively caress, a kiss.
I cried, filled with love: I love you who kiss me divinely, my homeland!
And I wanted, with great love, to pray! I passed through a door of a church.
There, beneath the statue of Mary, I saw a priest collecting huge donations, meanwhile
ignoring a poor and wretched beggar who stood pleading for bread to ease the hunger!
I went into a workman's hut; a man was defaming the earth and cursing the country,
hating all that we hold sacred, denying Church and God, for bringing sorrow to his children.
In so much misery, how will our people survive?
Only your eye expresses humanely here, a look of pity, where I looked at you, you like an angel.
And I said: Here the beauty of life! But, then, to your words a new sadness has gripped my heart.
Oh beautiful young lady, don't discredit the words of a poet. Listen! You don't know love.
Love, a divine gift, don't scoff at it. The life and soul of the world is love!

* 有一天我仰望藍天

妳這話重擊了我埋藏許久的純潔靈魂。現在就讓妳見識被妳們嘲笑的愛有多詩意！
有一天我仰望蔚藍的天空，看到無際的草原與鮮花，太陽普照著金色光芒，直到金色山脈將其所有榮耀都反射到天上。
我頓感栩栩如生的愛撫與親吻，正從地面伸展到我的額頭。
我渾身充滿愛，大喊：你神聖地親吻了我，我愛你，我的家園！
我想禱告！於是穿過教堂的一扇門，卻在聖母瑪麗亞像的下方，
看到一位牧師正在收集鉅款，無視一個可憐乞丐，痛苦地乞求麵包來緩解飢餓！
我又走進一間小屋，有工人正在汙衊地球、詛咒國家，憎恨一切我們認為神聖的事物，否定教會和上帝，只因他的孩子被悲哀的事纏身。
在這麼多的苦難中，我們將如何生存下去？ 唯有妳的雙眼還彰顯著人性，我望著妳，一臉憐憫之情，簡直就是天使。
這就是人生之美！但妳剛才的話卻帶來悲傷，揪結了我的心。
哦，美麗的小姐，請勿懷疑我的話。聽著！你不知什麼是愛！
愛是神聖的禮物，不要嘲笑它。全世界的生命與靈魂都是愛！