Italian Opera!

[SKYIO]

I'm learning Italian, and want something to listen to in the background.


Any help would be greatly appreciated

[SKYIO]

Guys...? Anyone?

[Spineur]

Today is March 12th, the 155th birthday of Italy.
So what is the most important song for italians ?
There may be others, but I would say "VA PENSIERO" from the slave chorus of Nabucco, would be very close to the top:
This youtube excerpt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaXE0v0bJoE
conducted by Ricardo Muti for the 150th birthday of Italian reunification on March 12th 2011 in front of the President and Silvio Berlusconi led to an amazing standing ovation, and Ricardo Muti invites the public to sing with the chorus, and he bis the chorus in the middle of the opera while everybody, including the public sings together VA PENSIERO.  An amazing moment of opera ! which could only happen in Italy.  BRAVISSIMO !!
For your language endeavor, here is the lyrics of this extraordinary beautiful chorus, composed early in Verdi's career

Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate ;
Va, ti posa sui clivi, sui colli,
Ove olezzano tepide e molli
L'aure dolci del suolo natal !
Del Giordano le rive saluta,
Di Sionne le torri atterrate...
Oh mia patria si bella e perduta !
O membranza sì cara e fatal !
Arpa d'or dei fatidici vati,
Perché muta dal salice pendi?
Le memorie nel petto raccendi,
Ci favella del tempo che fu !
O simile di Solima ai fati
Traggi un suono di crudo lamento,
O t'ispiri il Signore un concento
Che ne infonda al patire virtù !

[mc ukrneal]

I'm learning Italian, and want something to listen to in the background.


Any help would be greatly appreciated

It's hard to listen to opera as background music. There are some discs of overtures and such that may work better in that regard.