MUSIC: "Vissi d'arte" performed by Angela Gheorghiu

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I sigh each time I hear this beautiful aria

This performance is divine

When I hear it, now having seen CMBYN,

I think this must be the sound of

Elio's spirit expressing his feelings for Oliver

A little background for this aria:

Tosca and the painter, Cavaradossi, are lovers

Cesare Angelotti is an escaped political prisoner

The police are after Angelotti

Cavaradossi has helped hide him

The Chief-of-Police Baron Scarpia has Cavaradossi arrested

They torture him and prepare to execute him

Baron Scarpia tells Tosca

Give yourself to me and I'll free Cavaradossi

Tosca sings this aria as a prayer to God

Asking why God has abandoned her in her hour of need

Lyrics in English:

I lived for art, I lived for love,

I never harmed a living soul!

With a discreet hand

I relieved all misfortunes I encountered.

Always with sincere faith

my prayer

rose to the holy tabernacles.

Always with sincere faith

I decorated the altars with flowers.

In this hour of grief,

why, why, Lord,

why do you reward me thus?

I donated jewels to the Madonna's mantle,

and offered songs to the stars and to heaven,

which thus did shine with more beauty.

In this hour of grief,

why, why, Lord,

ah, why do you reward me thus?

Angela Gheorghiu

"Vissi d'arte" 

from Puccini's opera, Tosca

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/gnqa94oeGfw