Fabio Campana: Vorrei cangiarmi in ape
Hannah Ludwig
Campana was part of the great Italian musical diaspora that supplied Bel Canto to the rest of the world - in his case, as in hundreds of others, to London in particular. His eight operas are now forgotten, even though the first one had Verdi’s future wife Giuseppina Strepponi as prima donna, and the last one had the “Queen of Song” Adelina Patti. A few of his songs have lived on to be sung by artists including, in modern times, Sutherland and Pavarotti. There are literally dozens more awaiting revival - nobody has yet catalogued just how many. As far as we know, ours is the first-ever recording of this particular gem.
Campana around 1870, source publication unknown
Campana was born in Livorno in 1819 and produced his first two operas there. In his early thirties he moved to the British Isles where he was based for the rest of his life. He was active as a conductor and teacher, and published a steady stream of songs in both Italian and English up to his death in 1882.
The surprisingly sensual text of “Vorrei cangiarmi in ape” is credited in the original publication to “T. Salvini,” which may mean the celebrated tragedian Tommaso Salvini (1829-1915), though we have not been able to find any independent confirmation of his authorship.
Vorrei cangiarmi in ape
Per suggere il tuo core,
E insieme gustar l’estasi
D’un puro intenso amore;
Vorrei col mio sospiro
Il tuo sospir libare;
Corpo, sensi, ed anima
Tutto di te aspirare.
Qual tenerezza e quanta
Abbonda nel mio petto!
Solo nel cielo gli angeli
Inebria un tanto affetto!
E se con te dividerlo
In terra mi fia dato
Non curerò le innumeri
Delizie del creato!
I would like to turn into a bee
to suck nectar from your heart,
and to taste together the ecstasy
of a pure, intense love;
I would like with my breath
to drink your sighs;
body, senses, and soul,
to inhale all of you.
What affection, and how much,
abounds in my breast!
Only the angels in heaven
are intoxicated with such feeling!
And if it should be granted me
to share this with you on earth,
I will care nothing for the countless
delights of creation!