Dedicated in memory of the recently-deceased Italian tenor, Maestro Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007).

For baritone voice, cor anglais, timpani and string orchestra.

Lyrics by Salvatore di Giacomo (Neapolitan Poet, 1860-1934).

Language: Neapolitan Italian (Napulitano)

Lyrics:
Nu pianefforte 'e notte
Sona lontanemente
E 'a musica se sente
Pe ll'aria suspirà

E' ll'una: dorme 'o vico
Ncopp'a sta nonna nonna
'e nu mutivo antico
'e tanto tempo fa

Dio, quanta stelle cielo!
Che luna! E c'aria doce!
Quanto na bella voce
Vurria sentì cantà!

Ma solitario e lento
More 'o mutivo antico
se fa cchiù cupo 'o vico
dint'a all'oscurità.

Ll'ànema mia surtanto
rummane a sta funesta.
Aspetta ancora, e resta,
ncantannose, a penzà.

Translation:
A piano in the night
plays softly in the distance
And a sigh comes through the air,
borne upon the melody.

It's one o'clock: the lane sleeps
to the lullaby
of an ancient melody
of a time long ago.

Lord, how starry the sky is!
What a moon! And such sweet air!
How I wish that I could hear
someone singing tenderly!

But solitary and slow,
the ancient melody dies;
Darkness deepens as the lane
fades into obscurity.

My soul remains alone
here at the window.
It waits still, and remains
delighted in thought.