''Malìa'' (Italian "enchantment") is an 1887 Italian
art song
An art song is a Western vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, and usually in the classical art music tradition. By extension, the term "art song" is used to refer to the collective genre of such songs ...
composed by
Paolo Tosti to a poem by Rocco Pagliara. It is acknowledged as one of the standards of the Italian classical song repertory.
The song begins "Cosa c'era ne'l fior che m'hai dato? forse un filtro, Un arcano poter?". - translated as "What was it in the flower you gave me, a love potion perhaps or a secret power?"
[In Celebration of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 60th Birthday 1991 p20 MALIA What was it in the flower you gave me , A philtre perhaps or a secret power ?]
References
{{authority control
1887 songs
Art songs
Songs in Italian