Rondine al nido

Rondine al nido is a romance and one of the best known works of the Italian composer Vincenzo de Crescenzo, whose music was in the repertoire of Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Richard Tucker, Luciano Pavarotti, Luigi Infantino, Ramón Vargas, Robert Dean Smith, Francesco Albanese, among many others.

""Rondine al nido""
Song
Language	Italian
English title	"Swallow's Nest"
Written	1926
Genre	Romance song
Composer(s)	Vincenzo de Crescenzo
Lyricist(s)	Luigi Sica

Written by de Crescenzo in the early 20th century (1926),^[1] it deals with lost love. While written and performed as a Neapolitan song, but with lyrics in Italian, it is more like an aria of the late Romantic period, demanding of the singer high intensity, high notes, and excellent breath control.^[2] It begins calmly and lightly, and then it becomes a passionate outburst.^[2] The second stanza repeats this scheme.^[2]

The song was sung by tenor Agostino Castagnola as The Doctor (EMH) portrayed by Robert Picardo in the 13th episode, Virtuoso, of the sixth season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. The episode was first aired on 26 January 2000 in the United States.^[3] The song is performed in Las Vegas at the Bellagio's fountain, which dances to Luciano Pavarotti's version of the song.^[4][5]

Rondine al Nido is also the title of a short story by Claire Vaye Watkins, from her collection Battleborn.

Lyrics

Every performer interprets the song in his own way and there have been several changes from version to version. The following version is from the booklet of the 1990 album, Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert.

Italian I Sotto la gronda de la torre antica Una rondine amica, Allo sbocciare del mandorlo è tornata. Ritorna tutti gli anni, Sempre alla stessa data, Monti e mare essa varca    per tornar. Solo amore Quando fugge e va lontano Speri invano E non torni più, Speri invano E non torni più. II Nella penombra dolce della sera Passa la primavera. Cinguettano le rondini nel volo, Ebbre di luce e d'aria. Ed io son triste e solo; Monti e mare tu non varchi    per tornar. Mia piccina, Fosti tutta la mia vita; Sei fuggita E non torni più. Sei fuggita E non torni più.

Translation in English I Under the eaves of the old tower, as the almond tree blossoms, a friendly swallow has returned. Every year she returns, always in the same day. She crosses mountains and sea    to get back here. Only love flees and does not return. It makes you hope in vain, but it does not return. It makes you hope in vain, but it does not return. II In the soft twilight of evening springtime is passing. The swallows chatter in their flight — they are drunk with light and air. But I am sad and lonely. You do not cross mountains and sea    to come back to me. My little one, You were my whole life, but you ran away, never to return. You ran away, never to return!

Selected recordings

The following is a selection of recordings that includes "Rondine al nido" sung by some of its most famous interpreters. Recordings are listed in chronological order by year.

Year	Album
1984	Mamma Performers: Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Andrea Griminelli (flute) and Henry Mancini (piano) Conductor and Ensemble: Henry Mancini and his Chorus and Orchestra Released: 1984; 13 November 2007 (reissue) Recorded: 17–21, 29 January 1984 Gran Casino, Noga Hilton, Geneva Label: London / Decca Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 12.[6][7]
1990	O Sole Mio Performer: Beniamino Gigli Conductor: Nathaniel Shilkret Released: 6 March 1990 Label: EMI Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 16.[8]
	Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert Performers: José Carreras, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti Conductor: Zubin Mehta Ensembles: Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Released: 1990 Recorded: 7 July 1990 Baths of Caracalla, Rome Label: Decca Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 5 sung by Pavarotti; released in Audio CD and DVD-Video formats.[6]
	Luciano Pavarotti in Concert Performers: Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) and Andrea Griminelli (flute) Conductor: Emerson Buckley Ensemble: Emilia Romagna Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra Released: 25 October 1990 Recorded: 14 August 1985 Piazza Grande, Modena, Italy Label: CBS Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 7.[9]
1991	Gigli in Song Performer: Beniamino Gigli Released: 9 January 1991 Label: Pearl Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 16.[10]
1993	Pavarotti in Central Park Performers: Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) and Andrea Griminelli (flute) Conductor: Leone Magiera Ensembles: Boys Choir of Harlem and New York Philharmonic members Released: 1993; 7 March 1995 (reissue) Recorded: 26 June 1993 Central Park, New York City Label: Decca Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 13; released in Audio CD and DVD-Video formats.[6][11]
1994	Celebri melodie italiane Performers: Gino Bechi Released: 27 September 1994 Label: RCA Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 14.[12]
1998	Momenti del 900 Performers: Simone Alaimo Released: 1 November 1998 Label: Agora Musica Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 5.[13]
2000	Star Trek: Voyager – Virtuoso Released: 2000; 26 January 2000 Recorded: January 2000 Label: Virtuoso Notes: "Rondine al nido" features in UPN's Star Trek: Voyager episode "Virtuoso", with voice over by tenor Agostino Castagnola as EMH (The Doctor) portrayed by Robert Picardo. "[3][14]
2001	Neapolitan Café Ensemble: Quartetto Gelato Released: 2001; 22 November 2005 (reissue) Label: Linus Entertainment Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 12.[15]
2002	Das Ist Dein Tag Performers: German Tenors Released: 21 June 2002 Label: Koch Records Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 6.[16]
2005	Favourite Flavours Performers: Peter De Sotto (tenor), Cynthia Steljes (oboe), Joseph Macerollo (accordion) and George Meanwell (cello) Ensemble: Quartetto Gelato Released: 8 November 2005 Label: Koch Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 7 arranged by Shelly Berger.[17]
2007	Ready for More Performers: Michael Amante Released: 2007 Label: Agora Musica Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 11.[18]
2007	My Love Songs, Forever Performers: Palmerio Piras Released: 30 May 2007 Label: Three Monkeys Music Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 2.[19]
2010	Romanze dell'800 Performers: Claudio Villa Released: 2010 Label: Fonit Cetra WMI Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 10.[20]
2011	A Napoli Performers: Marc Hervieux Released: 2011 Label: ATMA Classique Notes: "Rondine al nido" features on track 7.[21]