| Puccini's opera "Gianni Schicchi" which lasts one act | | | | It being clear in the message she sends to her |
| starts out with the death of a man whose | | | | father about how if her love would prove to be in |
| fortune attracts many. All of them wanting to | | | | vain she would prefer to throw herself in the |
| inherit as much as possible and it is with sadness | | | | river than to go on. |
| and hope that they go through the recently | | | | "O Mio Babbino Caro" is a romantic aria yet it |
| deceased's house; looking for the will that will | | | | differs from most in being a plea in the name of |
| clarify who will receive what and how much. | | | | love from a young lady, not to the one she |
| Lauretta for her part only wants enough money | | | | wishes to be with but to her father; not to ignore |
| so that she and her beloved may at last get | | | | her adoration for the one she feels she can not |
| married. | | | | live without. These sentiments being accompanied |
| It is however once the will is found that all receive | | | | by a music which has a feeling of longing which |
| a shock when they are made aware that all has | | | | seems will never really be fulfilled yet it implores |
| been left to a convent and nothing for them. | | | | along with the cries of lauretta; who wishes more |
| Alarmed they do not know what to do while | | | | than anything that her father give her this which |
| Laureta says good bye to all hope of being happy | | | | to her has become everything. |
| with the man of her adoration. It is nonetheless in | | | | Naturally, it is after hearing his daughter's |
| this despair that the idea comes to mind of calling | | | | supplication that Gianni Schichi agrees to do what |
| for Lauretta's father; Gianni Schichi. It being he | | | | he can so the fortune which was promised to a |
| who though unpopular with most is thought to be | | | | convent will remain with those in the room and by |
| the only one who can find a solution to the | | | | virtue of which his daughter will be able to be |
| problem and save them from receiving nothing | | | | taken to wife by the man who likewise adores |
| from a will they feel should have been more | | | | her. As for "O Mio Babbino Caro", it has been |
| generous with them. | | | | used outside of the opera on many an occasion; |
| Gianni Schicchi however once made aware of the | | | | with notable cases being the film "A Room With A |
| situation refuses to help these people, whom he | | | | View" and a female figure skater who won the |
| sees as opportunists and little else; this being what | | | | gold medal at the 2006 winger Olympics. This |
| he declares in no unclear way with the words "Al | | | | perhaps due to the music which seems to be |
| propo di quella gente niente, niente" as he crosses | | | | slowly releasing hope and passion in a way |
| his arms in anger. The translation of this in to | | | | resembling a figure skater in the act of gliding |
| English being "concerning those people, I will do | | | | across not only ice but clouds. |
| nothing, nothing" yet it is as the music is dying out | | | | There have been many great divas to perform |
| along with the hopes of all that a faint sound | | | | "O Mio Babbino Caro" through out the years yet I |
| starts to rise; almost out of the ashes of tragedy | | | | would say that my favorite soprano and love of |
| that are all about. It is heard softly, almost in the | | | | my opera life, Angela Gheorghiu is superb; |
| background as a pleading voice cries out "O mio | | | | specially in taking the very high note that comes |
| babbino caro". This meaning "oh, my dear father" | | | | almost at the very begging. It being when |
| along with the rest of the aria which Lauretta | | | | Lauretta is telling her father how beautiful she |
| sings to her father as she begs him to help her | | | | finds the one she sings about. As a footnote to |
| and her beloved get the money they will need to | | | | this aria I can add that in the dialect of Toscana, |
| get married yet in all there is so much love and | | | | "babbo" means father with the word "babbino" |
| true passion; as lauretta's suffering is tremendous. | | | | being its affectionate version. |