Francesco Conti* (?) (1681-1732):
[formerly attributed to Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739)]
Il mio bel foco [Quella fiamma]
Text: Anonymous
Recorded (Schirmer Medium High) Key (aria): A Minor
Original (18th-century) Key: C Minor
Teach-Track begins: m. 1 of recitative
Accompaniment Track begins: m. 1 of recitative
Pianist: Daniel Michalak
* John Glenn Paton (ed.), in his edition of 26 Italian Songs and Arias (Alfred Publishing, Van Nuys, CA, 1991), argues persuasively that this aria is most likely by Marcello?s contemporary Francesco Conti. He also points out the the opening recitative included in the Schirmer edition is not authentic, but was added in 1880 by the editor Carl Banck.
Il mio bel foco, o lontano o vicino
[The] my beautiful fire, either distant or near
ch'esser poss'io, senza cangiar mai tempre
that-be can-I, without changing ever [quality],
(that I may be,)
per voi care pupille, ardera sempre.
for you, dear eyes, will-burn always.
Quella fiamma che m'accende
That flame which me-kindles
piace tanto all'alma mia
pleases so-much to-[the]-soul mine
che giammai s'estinguera.
that never itself-will-it-extinguish.
E se il fato a voi me rende,
And if [the] fate to you me returns,
vaghi rai del mio bel sole
lovely rays of-[the] my beautiful sun,
altra luce ella non vuole
other light it (does) not want
(my soul does not desire any other light)
ne voler giammai potra.
nor wish ever will-it-be-able-to.
(nor will it ever want any other. )