Voi che sapete - Three views of Cherubino's aria from "The Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart

"Voi che sapete" is a beloved aria from Mozart's opera "Le nozze di Figaro" (The Marriage of Figaro). The wily young page Cherubino sings this aria in Act II. This video offers three different takes on this popular melody: 1.) As written by Mozart for the opera Cherubino: Lucia Popp Conductor: Leonard Slatkin Münchner Rundfunkorchester 2.) 2:46 - Arranged by Mozart for basset horn trio as the second movement of his Divertimento No. 6, KV 439b/6 (here it is played by two clarinets and a bassoon) Clarinets: Henk de Graaf, Jan Jansen Bassoon: Johan Steinmann 3.) 5:07 - Sung with vocal embellishments by Italian composer Domenico Corri (1746-1825) Cherubino: Susanne Mentzer Conductor: Charles Mackerras Scottish Chamber Orchestra Text by Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838): Voi che sapete che cosa è amor, donne, vedete, s'io l'ho nel cor. Quello ch'io provo, vi ridirò, è per me nuovo capir nol so. Sento un affetto pien di desir, ch'ora è diletto, ch'ora è martir. Gelo e poi sento l'alma avvampar, e in un momento torno a gelar. Ricerco un bene fuori di me, non so chi il tiene, non so cos'è. Sospiro e gemo senza voler, palpito e tremo senza saper, Non trovo pace notte né dì, ma pur mi piace languir così. Voi, che sapete che cosa è amor donne, vedete, s'io l'ho nel cor. English translation: You who know what love is, Ladies, see if I have it in my heart. I'll tell you what I'm feeling, It's new for me, and I understand nothing. I have a feeling, full of desire, Which is by turns delightful and miserable. I freeze and then feel my soul go up in flames, Then in a moment I turn to ice. I'm searching for affection outside of myself, I don't know how to hold it, nor even what it is! I sigh and lament without wanting to, I twitter and tremble without knowing why, I find peace neither night nor day, But still I rather enjoy languishing this way. You who know what love is, Ladies, see if I have it in my heart.