Lauritz Melchior "Dio Mi Potevi" (in German) Verdi's Otello laments his fate (1930)

Lauritz Melchior as Othello (or Verdi's Otello) on HMV D 2037. Lauritz Melchior sings the aria called the Otello Monologue. "Dio Mi Potevi" from Act III is sung in German: "Gott, warum hast du gehäuft dieses Elend." Otello laments his fate (translated to English, he is saying, "God, you could have thrown every evil at me"). Recorded on May 17, 1930. Dio! Mi potevi scagliar tutti i mali God! You could have hurled at me all evils della miseria, della vergogna, of misery, of shame, far de' miei baldi trofei trionfali You could have made all my triumphs una maceria, una menzogna. . . rubble, lies. . . E avrei portato la croce crudel And I would have carried that cruel cross d'angoscie e d'onte of anxiety and shame con calma fronte with calm resignation e rassegnato al volere del ciel. and submitted to the will of Heaven. Ma, o pianto, o duol! But, oh tears, oh sorrow! m'han rapito il mirraggio The vision has been wrenched from me dov'io, giulivo, l'anima acqueto. to which I would turn to, joyfully, to comfort my soul. Spento è quel sol, quel sorriso, quel raggio Extinguished is that sun, that smile, that ray che mi fa vivo, che mi fa lieto! that made me alive, that gave me happiness! Spento è quel sol, quel sorriso, quel raggio Extinguished is that sun, that smile, that ray che mi fa vivo, che mi fa lieto! that made me alive, that gave me happiness! Tu alfin, Clemenza, pio genio immortal But you, oh Mild One, pious eternal spirit dal roseo riso, with the rosy smile, copri il tuo viso santo cover your holy face coll'orrida larva infernal! with the horrid mask of hell! Ah! Dannazione! Ah, damnation! Pria confessi il delitto e poscia muoia! Let her confess the crime and then die! Confession! Confession! Confession! Confession! La prova! The proof! [Iago enters] IAGO Cassio è là! Cassio is there! OTELLO Là? Cielo! Oh, gioia! There! Heavens! Oh joy! Lauritz Melchior "Dio Mi Potevi" (in German) Verdi's Otello laments his fate (1930)