Text & Translation
Misero pargoletto
Italian source:
Pietro Metastasio
Il tuo destin non sai.
Ah! non gli dite mai
Qual era il genitor.
Come in un punto, o Dio,
Tutto cangiò d’aspetto!
Voi foste il mio diletto,
Voi siete il mio terror.
Unhappy Child
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
you do not know your fate.
Ah, never tell him
who his father was.
O God, how in one moment
everything changed its aspect!
You were my delight;
now you make me afraid.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Misero pargoletto
Italian source:
Pietro Metastasio
Unhappy Child
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Misero pargoletto,
Unhappy child,
Il tuo destin non sai.
you do not know your fate.
Ah! non gli dite mai
Ah, never tell him
Qual era il genitor.
who his father was.
Come in un punto, o Dio,
O God, how in one moment
Tutto cangiò d’aspetto!
everything changed its aspect!
Voi foste il mio diletto,
You were my delight;
Voi siete il mio terror.
now you make me afraid.
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Pietro Metastasio
Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, better known by his pseudonym of Pietro Metastasio, was an Italian poet and librettist, considered the most important writer of opera seria libretti. Metastasio was born in Rome, where his father, Felice Trapassi,…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 80. Dangerous Liaisons: Louise Alder, Nikolay Borchev & Sholto Kynoch 26 Oct 2019
- Schubert Abroad: Schubert & Co. 23 Oct 2018
- Franz Schubert: Katharina Ruckgaber & Sholto Kynoch 16 Oct 2017