E Lucevan Le Stelle
"" ("And the stars were shining") is a romantic aria from the third act of Giacomo Puccini's opera ''Tosca'' from 1900, composed to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is sung in act 3 by Mario Cavaradossi (tenor), a painter in love with the singer Tosca, while he waits for his execution on the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo. Written in B minor, it is one of the most famous opera arias. The vocal range extends from F 3 to A4. The aria is considered part of the spinto tenor repertoire. The aria is introduced by a somber clarinet solo. The incipit of the melody (heard in outline earlier in the act, as the sky lightens and the gaoler prepares for the execution) is repeated on the lines "" ("Oh, sweet kisses and languorous caresses"), and also restated in forte in the closing bars of the opera, as Tosca jumps from the ramparts. Libretto Plagiarism suit In 1920, the stage performer Al Jolson, together with Buddy DeSylva and Vincent Rose, wrote a popular ...
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