O Soave Fanciulla

(album: My Secret Passion: The Arias - 1998)

[Mimi and Rodolfo are getting acquainted fast. Outside, Rodolfo's friends call him to join them. He would rather stay with Mimi, but she shyly suggests they all go out together. "Tell me you love me," he pleads. She hold back, at first, but as this duet ends, they sing together for the first time and their first word is "Love."]

[Rodolfo:]
O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso
di mite circonfuso alba lunar,
in te ravviso il sogno
ch'io vorrei sempre sognar!

[Mimi:]
(Ah, tu sol comandi, amor!)

[Rodolfo:]
Fremon nell'anima
dolcezze esteme, (ecc)
Nel baccio freme amor!

[Mimi:]
(Oh come dolci scendono
le sue lusinghe al cor...
Tu sol comandi, amor!)

[M:] No per pieta!

[R:] Sei mia!

[M:] V'asepttan gli amici...

[R:] Gia mi mandi via?

[M:] Vorrei dir... ma non osso.

[M:] Se venissi con voi?

[R:] Che? Mimi!
Sarebbe cosi dolce restar qui.
C'e freddo fuori.

[M:] Vi staro vicina!

[R:] E al ritorno?

[M:] Curioso!

[R:] Dammi il braccio, o mia piccina...

[M:] Obbedisco, signor!

[R:] Che m'ami...di...

[M:] lo t'amo.

[Rodolfo E Mimi:]
Amor! Amor! Amor!


[Translation:]

Oh Sweet Little Lady

[Rodolfo:]
Oh! sweet little lady! Oh sweetest vision,
with moonlight bathing your pretty face!
The dream that I see in you
is the dream I'll always dream!

[Mimi:]
(Oh, you rule alone, Love!)

[Rodolfo:]
Deep in my soul trembles
the deepest of passions, etc.
Our kisses shudder with love!

[Mimi:]
(How gently now his words of praise
make their way into my heart...
You rule alone, oh love!)

[M:] No, I beg you!

[R:] You're mine now!

[M:] Your friends are still waiting.

[R:] So soon must I leave you?

[M:] I would like...I can't say it...

[R:] Speak!

[M:] What if I went along?

[R:] What? Mimi!
How sweet instead to stay behind here.
It's freezing outside.

[M:] I'd be right beside you!

[R:] What about later?

[M:] Who knows, sir?

[R:] Take my arm, my dear young lady...

[M:] As you say, my dear sir...

[R:] Do you love me, say!

[M:] I certainly do.

[Rodolfo & Mimi:]
Love! Love! Love!