"I lived for art, I lived for love"

Vissi d'arte



from Puccini's opera Tosca, performed by the radiant Leontyne Price, 1965

My other favorite rendition of this aria is by Renata Tebaldi, and can be heard here.

Sempre con fè sincera
la mia preghiera
ai santi tabernacoli salì.
Sempre con fè sincera
diedi fiori agl’altar.
Nell’ora del dolore
perchè, perchè, Signore,
perchè me ne rimuneri così?

Always with true faith
my prayer
rose to the holy shrines.
Always with true faith
I gave flowers to the altar.
In the hour of grief
why, why, o Lord,
why do you reward me thus?

Full text