This famous aria is sung near the end of the third act of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s well-known opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). The Countess believes her husband has been unfaithful or is at least attempting to meet other women in secret. She devises a plan with her maid, Susanna, (the woman to whom the Count once offered money in exchange for sleeping with him - which she refused because she is in love with and engaged to Figaro). As the Countess anxiously awaits Susanna’s return, she sings this aria while wondering why the love she first shared with her husband has transformed from happiness into tears.
Italian Lyrics
Recitative:E Susanna non vien!Sono ansiosa di sapercome il Conte accolse la proposta.Alquanto ardito il progetto mi par,E ad uno sposo si vivace e geloso!Ma che mal c’è?Cangiando i miei vestiti con quelli di Susanna,E suoi co’mieiAl favor della notte.Oh, cielo! a qual umil stato fataleIo son ridotta da un consorte crudel!Che dopo avermi con un misto inauditoD’infedeltà, di gelosia, di sdegno!Prima amata, indi offesa, e alfin tradita,Fammi or cercar da una mia serva aita!Aria:Dove sono i bei momentiDi dolcezza e di piacer?Dove andaro i giuramentiDi quel labbro menzogner?Perchè mai, se in pianti e in penePer me tutto si cangiò,La memoria di quel beneDal mio sen non trapassò?Ah! se almen la mia costanza,Nel languire amando ognor,Mi portasse una speranzaDi cangiar l’ingrato cor!
English Translation
Recitative:Susanna does not come!I’m anxious to knowHow the Count received the proposal.The scheme appears to be rather daring,And behind the back of a husband who is forceful and jealous!But what’s the harm?To change my clothes into those of Susanna,And she changes into mine.Under the cover of darkness.Oh, dear! What a humble and dangerous stateI am reduced to by a cruel husbandWho imparted me with an unheard mixture ofInfidelity, jealousy, and disdain!First, he loved me, then he abused me, and finally betrayed me,Let me seek help from a servant!Aria:Where are the good timesOf sweetness and pleasure?Where have they gone, the oathsOf that deceitful tongue?Why would, despite my tears and painAnd the complete change in my life,The good memoriesRemain within my breast?Ah! If only my constancy,Which still loves even while languishing,Will bring hopeTo change his ungrateful heart!
Recommended YouTube Recordings
The role of the Countess in Mozart’s opera must be performed by a lyric soprano. Lyric sopranos have a warm, well-balanced and bright tone, and are capable of beautiful legato singing. Here are some great examples for you to listen to as you follow along with the lyrics above.
Renee Fleming: Met Opera - November 11, 1998 Lucia Popp: Münchner Rundfunkorchester Cecilia Bartoli: Vienna Chamber Orchestra Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: London Philharmonic Orchestra Leontyne Price: Singing the aria only - 1972 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: 1959
This famous aria is sung near the end of the third act of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s well-known opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). The Countess believes her husband has been unfaithful or is at least attempting to meet other women in secret. She devises a plan with her maid, Susanna, (the woman to whom the Count once offered money in exchange for sleeping with him - which she refused because she is in love with and engaged to Figaro). As the Countess anxiously awaits Susanna’s return, she sings this aria while wondering why the love she first shared with her husband has transformed from happiness into tears.
Italian Lyrics
Recitative:E Susanna non vien!Sono ansiosa di sapercome il Conte accolse la proposta.Alquanto ardito il progetto mi par,E ad uno sposo si vivace e geloso!Ma che mal c’è?Cangiando i miei vestiti con quelli di Susanna,E suoi co’mieiAl favor della notte.Oh, cielo! a qual umil stato fataleIo son ridotta da un consorte crudel!Che dopo avermi con un misto inauditoD’infedeltà, di gelosia, di sdegno!Prima amata, indi offesa, e alfin tradita,Fammi or cercar da una mia serva aita!Aria:Dove sono i bei momentiDi dolcezza e di piacer?Dove andaro i giuramentiDi quel labbro menzogner?Perchè mai, se in pianti e in penePer me tutto si cangiò,La memoria di quel beneDal mio sen non trapassò?Ah! se almen la mia costanza,Nel languire amando ognor,Mi portasse una speranzaDi cangiar l’ingrato cor!
English Translation
Recitative:Susanna does not come!I’m anxious to knowHow the Count received the proposal.The scheme appears to be rather daring,And behind the back of a husband who is forceful and jealous!But what’s the harm?To change my clothes into those of Susanna,And she changes into mine.Under the cover of darkness.Oh, dear! What a humble and dangerous stateI am reduced to by a cruel husbandWho imparted me with an unheard mixture ofInfidelity, jealousy, and disdain!First, he loved me, then he abused me, and finally betrayed me,Let me seek help from a servant!Aria:Where are the good timesOf sweetness and pleasure?Where have they gone, the oathsOf that deceitful tongue?Why would, despite my tears and painAnd the complete change in my life,The good memoriesRemain within my breast?Ah! If only my constancy,Which still loves even while languishing,Will bring hopeTo change his ungrateful heart!
Recommended YouTube Recordings
The role of the Countess in Mozart’s opera must be performed by a lyric soprano. Lyric sopranos have a warm, well-balanced and bright tone, and are capable of beautiful legato singing. Here are some great examples for you to listen to as you follow along with the lyrics above.
Renee Fleming: Met Opera - November 11, 1998 Lucia Popp: Münchner Rundfunkorchester Cecilia Bartoli: Vienna Chamber Orchestra Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: London Philharmonic Orchestra Leontyne Price: Singing the aria only - 1972 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: 1959
This famous aria is sung near the end of the third act of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s well-known opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). The Countess believes her husband has been unfaithful or is at least attempting to meet other women in secret. She devises a plan with her maid, Susanna, (the woman to whom the Count once offered money in exchange for sleeping with him - which she refused because she is in love with and engaged to Figaro). As the Countess anxiously awaits Susanna’s return, she sings this aria while wondering why the love she first shared with her husband has transformed from happiness into tears.
Italian Lyrics
Recitative:E Susanna non vien!Sono ansiosa di sapercome il Conte accolse la proposta.Alquanto ardito il progetto mi par,E ad uno sposo si vivace e geloso!Ma che mal c’è?Cangiando i miei vestiti con quelli di Susanna,E suoi co’mieiAl favor della notte.Oh, cielo! a qual umil stato fataleIo son ridotta da un consorte crudel!Che dopo avermi con un misto inauditoD’infedeltà, di gelosia, di sdegno!Prima amata, indi offesa, e alfin tradita,Fammi or cercar da una mia serva aita!Aria:Dove sono i bei momentiDi dolcezza e di piacer?Dove andaro i giuramentiDi quel labbro menzogner?Perchè mai, se in pianti e in penePer me tutto si cangiò,La memoria di quel beneDal mio sen non trapassò?Ah! se almen la mia costanza,Nel languire amando ognor,Mi portasse una speranzaDi cangiar l’ingrato cor!
English Translation
Recitative:Susanna does not come!I’m anxious to knowHow the Count received the proposal.The scheme appears to be rather daring,And behind the back of a husband who is forceful and jealous!But what’s the harm?To change my clothes into those of Susanna,And she changes into mine.Under the cover of darkness.Oh, dear! What a humble and dangerous stateI am reduced to by a cruel husbandWho imparted me with an unheard mixture ofInfidelity, jealousy, and disdain!First, he loved me, then he abused me, and finally betrayed me,Let me seek help from a servant!Aria:Where are the good timesOf sweetness and pleasure?Where have they gone, the oathsOf that deceitful tongue?Why would, despite my tears and painAnd the complete change in my life,The good memoriesRemain within my breast?Ah! If only my constancy,Which still loves even while languishing,Will bring hopeTo change his ungrateful heart!
Recommended YouTube Recordings
The role of the Countess in Mozart’s opera must be performed by a lyric soprano. Lyric sopranos have a warm, well-balanced and bright tone, and are capable of beautiful legato singing. Here are some great examples for you to listen to as you follow along with the lyrics above.
Renee Fleming: Met Opera - November 11, 1998 Lucia Popp: Münchner Rundfunkorchester Cecilia Bartoli: Vienna Chamber Orchestra Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: London Philharmonic Orchestra Leontyne Price: Singing the aria only - 1972 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: 1959
This famous aria is sung near the end of the third act of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s well-known opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro). The Countess believes her husband has been unfaithful or is at least attempting to meet other women in secret. She devises a plan with her maid, Susanna, (the woman to whom the Count once offered money in exchange for sleeping with him - which she refused because she is in love with and engaged to Figaro). As the Countess anxiously awaits Susanna’s return, she sings this aria while wondering why the love she first shared with her husband has transformed from happiness into tears.
Italian Lyrics
Recitative:E Susanna non vien!Sono ansiosa di sapercome il Conte accolse la proposta.Alquanto ardito il progetto mi par,E ad uno sposo si vivace e geloso!Ma che mal c’è?Cangiando i miei vestiti con quelli di Susanna,E suoi co’mieiAl favor della notte.Oh, cielo! a qual umil stato fataleIo son ridotta da un consorte crudel!Che dopo avermi con un misto inauditoD’infedeltà, di gelosia, di sdegno!Prima amata, indi offesa, e alfin tradita,Fammi or cercar da una mia serva aita!Aria:Dove sono i bei momentiDi dolcezza e di piacer?Dove andaro i giuramentiDi quel labbro menzogner?Perchè mai, se in pianti e in penePer me tutto si cangiò,La memoria di quel beneDal mio sen non trapassò?Ah! se almen la mia costanza,Nel languire amando ognor,Mi portasse una speranzaDi cangiar l’ingrato cor!
English Translation
Recitative:Susanna does not come!I’m anxious to knowHow the Count received the proposal.The scheme appears to be rather daring,And behind the back of a husband who is forceful and jealous!But what’s the harm?To change my clothes into those of Susanna,And she changes into mine.Under the cover of darkness.Oh, dear! What a humble and dangerous stateI am reduced to by a cruel husbandWho imparted me with an unheard mixture ofInfidelity, jealousy, and disdain!First, he loved me, then he abused me, and finally betrayed me,Let me seek help from a servant!Aria:Where are the good timesOf sweetness and pleasure?Where have they gone, the oathsOf that deceitful tongue?Why would, despite my tears and painAnd the complete change in my life,The good memoriesRemain within my breast?Ah! If only my constancy,Which still loves even while languishing,Will bring hopeTo change his ungrateful heart!
Recommended YouTube Recordings
The role of the Countess in Mozart’s opera must be performed by a lyric soprano. Lyric sopranos have a warm, well-balanced and bright tone, and are capable of beautiful legato singing. Here are some great examples for you to listen to as you follow along with the lyrics above.
- Renee Fleming: Met Opera - November 11, 1998
- Lucia Popp: Münchner Rundfunkorchester
- Cecilia Bartoli: Vienna Chamber Orchestra
- Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Leontyne Price: Singing the aria only - 1972
- Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: 1959
