“O Mio Babbino Caro” (“Oh my beloved father”)
is a popular aria from Giacomo Puccini's 1918 opera
Gianni Schicchi. It is sung by Lauretta after tensions
between her father (Gianni Schicchi) and his
prospective in-laws have reached a breaking point that
threatens to separate her from Rinuccio, the boy she
loves. The aria provides a contrasting interlude
expressing lyrical simplicity and single-hearted love
in the atmosphere of hypocrisy, jealousy and
double-dealing of medieval Florence, w...(+)
“O Mio Babbino Caro” (“Oh my beloved father”)
is a popular aria from Giacomo Puccini's 1918 opera
Gianni Schicchi. It is sung by Lauretta after tensions
between her father (Gianni Schicchi) and his
prospective in-laws have reached a breaking point that
threatens to separate her from Rinuccio, the boy she
loves. The aria provides a contrasting interlude
expressing lyrical simplicity and single-hearted love
in the atmosphere of hypocrisy, jealousy and
double-dealing of medieval Florence, where Puccini's
only comedy is set.
All the most famous sopranos of the 20th century have
performed this aria, including Maria Callas, Renata
Tebaldi, Montserrat Caballé, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,
Kathleen Battle, Renée Fleming and many others. It has
also become in demand with popular music sopranos such
as Sarah Brightman, Charlotte Church, and Hayley
Westenra. Violinist Joshua Bell also has produced a
recording of it. James Ivory's 1985 adaptation of E.M.
Forster's novel A Room with a View uses the aria as the
title theme.
I created this arrangement of the Aria for Viola &
Concert (Pedal) Harp.
PARTITION