Mozart - Canzonetta Sull'aria

[Shauna]

For those who are curious, this is the "Letter Duet" from Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro. The voices are those of Edith Mathis ("Susanna") and Gundula Janowitz ("the Countess"). The countess's husband cheats on her and at the same time is violently jealous of any conversation she has with a male. This being the 18th century, she's legally powerless. Meanwhile, her servant Susanna has her own problem: she's engaged to marry his servant Figaro, but a dowry is required... which the count will provide on a certain, ahem, condition that Susanna is to fulfill. Ugh. -- So, together, the two women devise a complicated, daring, and entertaining way to expose the count and perhaps cure him of his nasty ways. That evening in the estate's gardens, the countess and maid will exchange cloaks and, under cover of darkness, the countess will "go along with" her husband, who will think she's Susanna until they are "discovered"... So, this Letter Duet is where the countess dictates "Susanna's" romantic and suggestive letter to the count about meeting her in the garden that night. Susanna echoes the countess's phrases while writing. -- Mozart was incapable of writing anything that wasn't beautiful. And, this opera, which is both comedy and drama, has extreme historical importance: it names and shames the unspoken "droit du seigneur" under which a powerful landowner did whatever he wanted to the servant and peasant women on his estate; it showcases the women's cleverness and strategy instead of treating them as merely decorative; and it hints at the looming change in the balance of power between nobility and commoners. This opera was written in 1786... hello? the American and French revolutions? -- Mozart took rich patrons' commissions and brought them this opera! Not what they wanted to hear. No wonder he died penniless and was dumped in a paupers' grave. Best composer of his era, best vocal writer ever, but without two cents to click together. He just couldn't resist saying what needed to be said. -- OK, now you know the story. Thanks for reading.

[vyllionaire]

... Perfection.

Black screen, full HD, no intro, no lyrics, no distractions... just the genius god graced this earth with. Many Thanks!

[wenweiwong]

This musical piece is voted in top 10 of the most relaxing music in the world!

[sugeeban]

I tell you, those voices soared.
Higher and farther than anybody in
a gray place dares to dream. It was
like some beautiful bird flapped
into our drab little cage and made
these walls dissolve away...and for
the briefest of moments -- every
last man at Shawshank felt free.

[johnmohlman]

I am 32 and have never realized the beauty in opera, but once I started to listen to the emotion in the words that I don't even understand I couldn't stop listening. I was mesmerized.

[AdelAlKooheji]

The Shawshank Redemption, my all-time-favorite movie; lead me here :)

[seandougherty]

There are times when this piece will literally move me to tears,  I could listen to just this one piece for hours.

[kushxmen]

This song almost made me cry, not once, not twice, but a number of times, ....and I don't know why!

[shawnconnor]

Possibly the most beautiful duet ever written... By the best composer.

[BERTKILLER]

Can’t stop listening to this. It’s a masterpiece!

[ayeshamangrio]

Everyone came here after watching "Shawshank redemption", I watched "Shawshank redemption" because of this masterpiece ❤ Shawshank is masterpiece too

[robertlegan]

On the wings of beautiful music I soar to heights beyond --

[Sownar]

I have no idea to this day what those Italian ladies were singing about
The truth is, I don't want to know Some things are best left unsaid.

[ricardobastidas]

Shawshank Redeption... when this sound in the movie is so beautiful and great...

[perilichee]

ruhum dinleniyor beynime cok iyi geliyor😌😌😌

[beverlyianloanna]

one of the most relaxing song ive listened to..

[jjred]

Beautiful. Brings tears to my eyes every I listen to it...

[zeynepkartal]

Nefes alış ritmine uygun olup insanın stresini alan bir parça 2.36

[Sagan_Starborn]

0:52-1:18, I know all she is singing is "under the pines of the grove" but the way her voice opens it makes tears start from my eyes.

[ozgekrbaz]

Just love it every time, when I listen.. The most relaxing peice