Italian lyrics
Casta Diva, che inargenti
queste sacre antiche piante,
a noi volgi il bel sembiante
senza nube e senza vel...
Tempra, o Diva,
tempra tu de’ cori ardenti
tempra ancora lo zelo audace,
spargi in terra quella pace
che regnar tu fai nel ciel…
(from live about dot com)
Pure Goddess, whose silver covers These sacred ancient plants, we turn to your lovely face unclouded and without veil... Temper, oh Goddess, the hardening of you ardent spirits temper your bold zeal, Scatter peace across the earth Thou make reign in the sky...
This is one of my favourite arias performed by the incomparable Maria Callas. At this point in the Bellini opera, Norma, a priestess, leads a prayer to the goddess of the moon ahead of an impending war. It's a moment of calm and reverence. Below, I have compiled eight of my favourite amateur iPhone photos of the moon from my night walks during the pandemic. The moon is a constant source of comfort and inspiration for me, and I've been moved by its beauty at all points of the year. I love to hum this aria when I'm appreciating it in the sky.
One
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Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Link to Bellini/Callas video source on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-TwMfgaDC8
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