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Opera - La Sonnambula - Aria - "Ah Non Credea mirarti"



The aria "Ah non credea mirarti" which translates to "Oh, I didn't believe to see you" is sung by the lead soprano, Amina during the end of  Act 2 (The Aria Database  ). 

Amina is an innocent, beautiful, sweet, young lady that is also very sad because she suffers from her sleepwalking illness. Amina symbolizes the dreams, hopes and goodness that a society needs. Through the music, Bellini uses the melodic line as a form of expression whereas the orchestra accompanies with simplicity the voice. 

The role of Amina, is very demanding for the sopranos as it requires both the mastery of the voice and acting. The soprano must convey Amina's emotions through a soft voice, which requires strong breath control. The voice needs to be bright with a colourful timbre which must remain the same through the high and lower register. Through the bel canto style, the soprano has to master Amina's phrasing so that the spectrum of her emotional state is conveyed through her singing. The singing should remain free and bright with precision while mastering the legato (Vicenzo Bellini’s opera creation, a means of cultural communication).    

Amina is sleep walking while singing her sorrow about the end of her engagement with Elvino. She remembers the ring Elvino removed from her hand, believing she was unfaithful to him, where in fact Amina has always been faithful to him (The Aria Database  )


The arias libretto is translated as follows:

Ah, non credea mirarti                                                  Oh, I didn't believe to see you                                 si presto estinto, o fiore;                                                so quickly extinct, o flower;                                     passasti al par d'amore,                                                 you have passed away like love                               che un giorno sol(o) duro.                                             that one day only lasted.

Potria novel vigore                                                        Perhaps new life                                                      il pianto mio recarti                                                       my tears will bring to you                                      ma ravivar l'amore                                                         but to revive love                                                   il pianot mio, ah no, non puo.                                        my tears, o no, cannot.

Ah, non giunge uman pensiero                                     O, inconceivable human thought                             al contento ond'io son piena:                                        a wave of contentment I am full:                            a miei sensi io credo appena;                                        In my feelings I can hardly believe                        tu m'affida o mio tesor.                                                  You assure me, o my treasure (darling).

Ah, mi abbraccia, e sempre insieme,                             O, embrace me, and always together,                    sempre unitit in una speme,                                           always united in a single hope,                              della terra, in cui viviamo                                              of the world, we live in                                          ci formiamo un ciel d'amor.                                            we will make a heaven of love.

(The Aria Database  )


You can read more facts about the opera La Sonnambula in the blog: Opera - La Sonnambula - Facts about the opera 
You can read the opera's synopsis in the blog: Opera - La Sonnambula - Synopsis 

References:

The Aria Database   

Vicenzo Bellini’s opera creation, a means of cultural communication                          

2023

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