I leave you, beloved shores,
I leave you, beloved city,
But my heart does not leave you.
But my heart remains with you.
Too much you were second to me ,
You supported me so well,
Too prodigal of love.
We were so generous with your love.
Ah! where is that ungrateful soul
Ah! Where is that ungrateful soul
That of a people so haughty,
who could ever forget
So noble and sincere
the friendship of such fine people,
Can I forget the favor?
So noble and sincere?
I leave you, etc.
I leave you, etc.
When the breeze is around
When you hear soft breezes
You will hear sweet whispers,
whisper round about you,
Or of love the night and the day
or by night and day
The nightingale speaks,
the nightingale sing of love,
Just say: this is Rossini
then say: That is Rossini
Who unfolds his desires,
confessing his devotion,< br/>And a crescendo of sighs
and a crescendo of his sighs
Fa sull'Istro resound,
will resound upon the Istrian shore,
And a crescendo, etc.< br/>and he's making a crescendo, etc.
THE VISIT OF the Naples Opera to Vienna in the spring of 1822 was Rossini's
first foreign tour. The city was so beset with Rossini fever that one newspaper liked the atmosphere to an idolatrous orgy. Rossini met Beethoven â âthe
butterfly crossed the path of the eagle' mused Robert Schumann â and was
royally entertained by Prince Metternich. To mark his departure on 22 July, Rossini penned his â Farewell to the Viennese'. It begins in the minor as a
reluctant leave-taking of the âbeloved shores'. In stanza three, the coloratura becomes progressively more elaborate as Rossini, assuming a madrigalist's guise, celebrates the nightingale's song. Finally, in full mock-heroic style, he bids
farewell with a trademark âcrescendo' of sighs. It is a witty, eloquent piece, which
he would later adapt for use in London and Paris.
Farewell to the Viennese, Ferdinand Pichl, Vienna, 1822