Yin Huang- Madame Butterfly saying farewell to her beloved son.
One of the most powerful arias in opera history. Yin Huang does is justice and then some. If it does not bring tears to your eyes, I am not sure what would. An amazing film but outstanding performance. She expresses innocence, naivete and deep love.
Her American lover did come back as she predicted but not to be with her. He came back to ask for his child. His new wife could not bear him children so he asked her for his son. To release her son and for “the sake of honor”, she kills herself.
Here are the Italian words and their interpretation.
Con onor muore Let there be honor in death
Chi non puo sebar vita where there is no honor in life.
Con onor Let there be honor.
Tu? Tu? Tu? Tu? You! You! You! You!
Piccolo iddio! My adored one, my love!
Amore, amore mio. My love, my own love.
Fior My flower,
di giglio e di rosa. more precious than lilies and roses!
Non saperlo mai…per te, You must never know the truth;
Pei tuoi puri occhi It is for you my child, for love of you
Muore Butterfly… that Butterfly will die!
Perche tu possa andar You will live happily
Di la dal mare across the sea.
Senza che ti ricorda And spared the memory
Ai di mature as you grow
Il materno abbandono of your mother forsaking you.
O a me, sceso dal trono For me you came down from the throne
Dell’alto paradise, of heaven
Guarda ben fiso, fiso, Look steadfastly steadfastly,
Di tua madre la faccial! into your mother’s face!
Che ten’ resti una traccia, So traces of it ramain in memory,
Guardo ben! Look well!
Amore, addio, addio! My love, goodbye, goodbye!
Piccolo amor! Little love!
Va, gioca, gioca. Go play, play.