Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901):
O don fatale (4-act version)
(from Don Carlo) (1867, rev. 1884)
Text:  Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, after Friedrich von Schiller?s dramatic poem Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien; 
French text revised by Du Locle, then translated into Italian by Achille de Lauzieres and Angelo Zanardini

Original Key/Recorded Key:  A-flat Minor
Teach-Track begins:  m. 1 (i.e., triplet pickups to m. 1 of version in ?old? Schirmer mezzo-soprano anthology)
Accompaniment Track begins:  m. 1 (see above)
Pianist:  Daniel Michalak

N.B.  The ?revised? version of the aria recorded here, which has long since become the standard performing version on stage and in the concert hall, differs in significant details from the version found in the ?old? Schirmer mezzo-soprano anthology.  The most immediately striking change, of course, is the addition of the dramatic repeated-note triplets to fill in what had been silences in the former (=Schirmer) version, as well as the absence of any pause before the voice enters.  (There are also different words, and thus different vocal rhythms, after ?Oh ciel! E Carlo??.)  These small but telling changes greatly increase the forward momentum and dramatic intensity of the aria.  To make the best use of this recording as a learning tool, we strongly encourage you to obtain sheet music of the ?revised? version.  


Notes © 1999 by Daniel O. Michalak