Eri già tutta mia (Monteverdi)

Just over a year ago, Hugues Cuenod died at the age of 108. I didn't get a chance to post his obituary at this site. This post is a belated tribute to a great singer.

With an angelic, pure toned and unpushed instrument, he sang publicly into his 90's. He was self effacing about his gifts, telling the NY times in 1987, “I never had a voice, so how could I lose one?” But he did have a great voice, a voice with exquisite diction, sophisticated musicianship and that clean, pure, angelic tone.

Here, he sings Eri già tutta mia but Monteverdi. Pure poetry.


"Eri già tutta mia",
Music: Claudio Monteverdi- 1587-1643
from Scherzi Musicali
Poet: Anonymous

Eri già tutta mia,
Mia quel' alma e quel core,
Chi da me ti desvia:
Novo laccio d'amore?
O bellezz' o valore,
O mirabil constanza,
Ove sei tu?
Eri già tutta mia;
Hor non sei più.
Ah, che mia non sei più.

Sol per me gl'occhi belli
Rivolgevi ridenti,
Per me d'oro i capelli
Si spiegavan a i venti.
O fugaci contenti,
O fermezza d'un core,
Ove sei tu?
Eri già tutta mia;
Hor non sei più.
Ah, che mia non sei più.

Il gioir nel mio viso:
Ah che più non rimiri.
Il mio canto, il mio riso
È converso in martiri.
O dispersi sospiri,
O sparita pietate,
Ove sei tu?
Eri già tutta mia;
Hor non sei più.
Ah, che mia non sei più.

English Translation from Lied and Art Song Text Site (see side bar for link)

You were once all mine,
mine were your heart and soul.
Who turned you away from me?
The lure of a new love?
O beauty, O valor,
O admirable constancy,
where are you now?
You were once all mine,
but no longer, no longer,
alas! you're mine no longer.

To me alone you turned
your lovely smiling eyes,
for me alone you loosed
your golden hair to the wind.
O fleeting happiness,
O steadiness of heart,
where are you now?
You were once all mine
but no longer, no longer,
alas! you're mine no longer.

Pleasure on my face, alas!
you'll gaze upon no longer;
my song, my laugh
are changed to torture.
O scattered sighs,
O vanished pity,
where are you now?
You were once all mine
but no longer, no longer,
alas! you're mine no longer.