Cristina Deutekom: Verdi - I Vespri Siciliani, 'Mercé dilette amiche'

Cristina Deutekom (born Christine Engel, August 28, 1931) is a Dutch opera singer. Renowned for her coloratura technique, she is also known as Christine Deutekom and Christina Deutekom. Her voice was that of a dramatic coloratura, although lirico spinto with an incredible coloratura technique would probably be more accurate. She sang with virtually all the leading tenors of her time: Franco Corelli, Richard Tucker, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Alfredo Kraus, Carlo Bergonzi and Nicolai Gedda. Deutekom was born in Amsterdam. After some smaller roles, her breakthrough came in 1963, portraying the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at De Nederlandse Opera. She then sang the same role at all major European opera houses and also at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1968. In 1974 she opened the MET season next to Plácido Domingo as Elena in I vespri siciliani. Meanwhile she had been extending her repertoire. Besides the Queen of the Night, her Mozart roles included Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte) and Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito). She also scored triumphant successes in Italy in the great bel canto roles of Rossini (Armida), Bellini (Norma, I puritani) and Donizetti (Lucia di Lammermoor). She went on to achieve international fame in a repertoire that also embraced the great dramatic Verdi roles (Abigaile in Nabucco, Lady Macbeth, Leonora in Il trovatore, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, Elena in I vespri siciliani and the roles that were captured in commercial recordings: Giselda in I Lombardi and Odabella in Attila). Finally, she went on to sing the title role in Puccini's Turandot. Cristina's stage career ended in 1986, when she suffered a heart attack. She turned to giving master classes internationally. As of 2001, she was a guest teacher at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristina...


Lyrics & English Translation

Thank you, beloved friends,
for these charming flowers;
The lovely gift is a reflection
of your heartfelt sincerity!
Oh, welcome is the bond
that awaits me through love.
If you will bring me bridesmaids,
happy vows will fill my heart.
Thanks for the gift!
Ah, yes! Ah, yes!
Dearest dream, oh, sweet intoxication!
My heart leaps at this new love!
Already I breathe a soft air
that makes all my senses reel.
Oh, my Sicilian homeland,
a tranquil day shines bright.
Too much dreadful vengeance
tears at your wounded heart!
Be filled with hope, forget the pain
of all you have endured.
May the day of my rejoicing
be the day of your glory, too.
I welcome the gift of these flowers
Ah, yes! Ah, yes!
Dearest dream, oh, sweet intoxication!
My heart leaps at this unknown love!
Already I breathe a gentle air
that makes all my senses reel.
Already I breathe an air
that makes all my senses reel.
My senses reel!
My heart leaps at this unknown love!
My heart leaps with joy,
and all my senses reel.


Please Enjoy!

I send my kind and warm regards,