In this strange complex of time and space anything can happen

Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Alessandro Nilo Angelo Moreschi, known in his lifetime as 'The Angel of Rome' and more commonly today as 'The Last Castrato'.

I shall be celebrating this evening by listening to all of the recordings which he made (in 1902 and 1904) with the attention they deserve and a glass of wine in my hand. But I am also marking the event here by posting the lyrics for those recordings, in the original languages as he sang them and with parallel English translations. The items are presented in the same order as that found on the OPAL CD, Alessandro Moreschi: The Last Castrato, since I know that that is the recording most people have of his repertoire. However, if you enjoy Moreschi's voice, I would really recommend that you purchase a copy of the Truesound version of his recordings, which has been cleaned up much more effectively than the OPAL one, and also includes a number of extra recordings made by other members of the Sistine Chapel Choir at the same time.

All translations are my own, although help which I received with the Palestrina madrigal, La Cruda Mia Nemica, is credited below. I have aimed for literal, rather than poetic, translations, with the intention being simply to help listeners understand the meaning of the songs Moreschi recorded.

Happy birthday, il mio angelo, and long may you be continue to be remembered.



Giovanni Aldega, Domine salvum fac
(Solo with piano and choir)

Domine, salvum fac Pontificem nostrum Leonem Et exaudi nos in die, qua invocaverimus te. Oremus.

Lord, preserve our Pope Leo [the Thirteenth], and heed us on that day when we call upon you. We pray.

Luigi Pratesi, Et Incarnatus Est / Crucifixus
(Solo, choir joining at end)

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: Et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: passus, et sepultus est.

And he was made incarnate from the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary: and he was made man. He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilatus: he suffered, and he was buried.

F. Paolo Tosti, Ideale (1882)
(Solo with piano)

Io ti seguii com'iride di pace Lungo le vie del cielo: Io ti seguii come un'amica face De la notte nel velo. E ti senti ne la luce ne l'aria, Nel profumo dei fiori; E fu piena la stanza solitaria Di te, dei tuoi splendori. In te rapito, al suon de la tua voce Lungamente sognai; E de la terra ogni affanno, ogni croce Inquelgiorno scordai Torna, caro ideal, Torna un istante a sorridermi ancora, E a me risplendera nel tuo sembiante Una novell'aurora, una novella aurora. Torna, caro ideal, torna, torna.

I followed you like a rainbow of peace Along the roads of the sky: I followed you like a friend made Of the night in a veil. And I felt you in the light, in the air In the perfume of flowers; And my lonely room was filled Of you, of your splendours. I am caught up in you, in the sound of your voice Dreamt from afar; And of the earth every worry, every cross I forgot on that day. Return, beloved ideal, Return for a moment to make me smile again, And on me will shine in your presence A new dawn, a new dawn. Return, beloved ideal, return, return.

Salvatore Meluzzi, Ave Verum Corpus
(Full choir with piano)

Ave verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine; vere passum immolatum in cruce pro homine, cuius latus perforatum unda fluxit et sanguine; esto nobis praegustatum mortis in examine.

Hail the true body born of the Virgin Mary; truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for man, whose perforated side flowed with a wave and blood; let it be for us a foretaste in the agony of death.

Gustavo E. Stehle, Tui Sunt Coeli
(Full choir with piano)

Tui sunt coeli, et tua est terra: orbem terrarum et plenitudinem eius tu fundasti: iustitia et iudicium praeparatio sedis tuae.

Yours are the heavens and yours is the earth: you established the orb of the earth and its abundance: justice and judgement are the forerunners of your throne.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ave Verum Corpus (1791; K 618)
(Full choir with piano)

Obviously this is basically the same text as the Meluzzi Ave Verum, above, but the word order in the last line can change slightly for this text, and in fact it does between these two versions.

Ave verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine; vere passum immolatum in cruce pro homine, cuius latus perforatum unda fluxit et sanguine; esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.

Hail the true body born of the Virgin Mary; truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for man, whose perforated side flowed with a wave and blood; let it be for us a foretaste in the agony of death.

Gioacchino Rossini, Crucifixus (1863)
(Solo with piano, plus harmonium in the second recording only)

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: passus, et sepultus est.

He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilatus: he suffered, and he was buried.

Ignace Xavier Joseph Leibach (Leybach), Pie Jesu (versetto from the Dies Irae)
(Solo with piano and harmonium)

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.

Pious Lord Jesus, give him peace. Amen.

Eugenio Terziani, Hostias et Preces
(Solo with piano and harmonium)

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus. Tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus: fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam.

Sacrifices and prayers of praise, Lord, we offer to you. Accept them for the spirits of those whom we remember today: Make them, Lord, pass over from death to life.

F. Paolo Tosti, Preghiera
(Solo with piano)

Alla mente confusa Di dubbio e di dolore Soccorri, o mio Signore, Col raggio della fé. Sollevala dal peso Che la declina al fango: A te sospiro e piango, Mi raccomando a te. Sai che la vita mia Si strugge appoco appoco, Come la cera al foco, Come la neve al sol. All'anima che anela Di ricovrarti in braccio Rompi, Signore, il laccio Che le impedisce il vol. Signor, pietà!

To the mind confused By doubt and sorrow You give succour, Oh my Lord, With the beam of faith. Lift it from the weight That pulls it to the mud: To you I sigh and I cry, I commend myself to you. You know that my life Consumes itself bit by bit Like wax in a furnace, Like snow in the sun. To the spirit that gasps To welcome you in embrace Break, Lord, the noose That impedes it from flight. Lord, have mercy!

Charles F. Gounod, Ave Maria (arr. 1859 after Johann S. Bach Prelude no 1 in C, BWV 846)
(Solo with piano and violin)

Ave Maria Gratia plena Dominus tecum Benedicta tu in mulieribus Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Sancta Maria Ora pro nobis peccatoribus Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen, Amen.

Hail Mary Full of grace The Lord is with you Blessed are you amongst women And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus Holy Mary, Holy Mary, Pray for us sinners Now and at the hour of our death. Amen, Amen.

Gregorian chant: Incipit Lamentatio (Medicean Breviary, Tone VI. Lectio I, Tenebrae, Holy Thursday)
(Solo a cappella)

Incipit lamentatio Ieremiae prophetae. ALEPH: Quomodo sedet sola civitas plena populo; facta est quasi vidua domina Gentium; princeps provinciarum facta est sub tributo. BETH: Plorans ploravit in nocte, et lacrimae eius in maxillis eius: non est qui consoletur eam ex omnibus caris eius: omnes amici eius spreverunt eam, et facti sunt ei inimici. HETH: Facti sunt hostes eius in capite, inimici illius locupletati sunt; quia Dominus locutus est super eam propter multitudinem iniquitatum eius. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.

Here begins the lamentation of the prophet Jeremiah. A: How does the city full with people sit alone; she is made as a widow, the mistress of Peoples; the chief of provinces is subjected to tribute. B: Weeping she wept in the night, and her tears were on her cheeks: none is there who comforts her among all her beloveds: all her friends have scorned her, and are become her enemies. E: Her foes are placed at the head, her enemies are enriched; because the Lord has pronounced judgement over her on account of the multitude of her transgressions. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return to your Lord God.

Gaetano Capocci, Gloria, Laudamus te, and Gratias agimus (from Messa di San Bonaventura)
(Choir with trio of soloists: Dado (Bass), Boezi (Tenor), Moreschi)

Choir: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Trio: Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Choir: Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. (reprieve) Solo: Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Choir: Gloria in excelsis Deo. (reprieve)

Choir: Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace to all men of good will. Trio: We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you. Choir: And on earth peace to all men of good will. Solo: We give thanks to you on account of your great glory. Choir: Glory to God in the highest.

Tomas Luis de Victoria (Vittoria), Popule meus (Improperia) (1585; from Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae: Tenebrae Responsories)
(Choir without accompaniment)

The original version of this text is in both Latin and Greek. I have represented the Greek with italics, but it is transliterated into Roman lettering because I can be sure that this will display properly on all browsers, and it is also easier for most people to read. In the English version, the phrases translated from Greek are also represented in Italics. The Latin and Greek texts in any case only repeat each other, so that in the English translation it appears that everything is being said twice.

Versiculus: Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut in quo contristavi te? Responde mihi. Responsorius: Hagios o Theos. Sanctus Deus. Hagios Ischyros. Sanctus Fortis. Hagios Athanatos, eleison hymas. Sanctus et Immortalis, miserere nobis.

Versicle: My people, what have I done to you? Or in what area have I afflicted you? Answer me. Response: Oh Holy God! Oh Holy God! Oh Holy Almighty! Oh Holy Almighty! Oh Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us! Oh Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us!

Gianni Pierluigi da Palestrina, La Cruda Mia Nemica (1586)
(Quartet SATB, unaccompanied)

I owe thanks to chalumeaux for helping me to track down this text, and to miss_next and two members of the linguaphiles community for helping me to translate it.

La cruda mia nemica Del mio dolor si pasce E si nutrica: Perchè ta l’hor sì pia La veggio al mi languire Che par mi udir la dire Spera ch’in breve finirà il tormento E poscia in un momento Veggendomi contento Mi si mostra sì ria Ch’ancide il fior de la speranza mia Ond’è forza ch’io dica La cruda mia nemica Del mio dolor si pasce E si nutrica.

My cruel enemy Grazes on my pain And feeds herself Because sometimes I see her So kindly disposed to my suffering That I seem to hear her say “Hope that soon the torment will finish” And then in a moment Seeing me content She shows herself so scornful That it kills the flower of my hope So that I am bound to say My cruel enemy Grazes on my pain And feeds herself

Emilio Calzanera, Oremus Pro Pontifice
(Solo leading choir, piano and harmonium)

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Pio. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, Et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. Oremus.

We pray for our Pope, Pius [the Tenth]. Lord conserve him, and make him live, and make him blessed on this earth, And do not hand him over to the spirit of his enemies. We pray.

Click here to view this entry with minimal formatting.