Do not confuse with songs of the same name by Ottorino Respighi and Paolo Tosti.

Mattinata (English: Morning) was the first song ever written expressly for the Gramophone Company (the present day HMV). Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo in 1904, this song was dedicated to Enrico Caruso, who was the first to record it in 1904 with the composer at the piano. Ever since, this piece has become a concert favourite.

More than a half-century later this song was recorded by Italian-born tenor Sergio Franchi on his American-debut album, Romantic Italian Songs (RCA Victor Red Seal, 1962). In only three months, Franchi's album of mostly Neapolitan favorites songs placed number seventeen on the Billboard Top 200. Thirty-six years later (eight years after Franchi's death) the same album placed number one hundred sixty-seven on the Billboard 200.

Text

Italian

L'aurora di bianco vestita
Già l'uscio dischiude al gran sol;
Di già con le rosee sue dita
Carezza de' fiori lo stuol!
Commosso da un fremito arcano
Intorno il creato già par;
E tu non ti desti, ed invano
Mi sto qui dolente a cantar.

Metti anche tu la veste bianca
E schiudi l'uscio al tuo cantor!
Ove non sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l'amor.

Ove non sei la luce manca;
Ove tu sei nasce l'amor.

Recordings (Youtube)

1. Giuseppe di Stefano on YouTube
2. Jussi Björling on YouTube
3. Enrico Caruso on YouTube
4. Beniamino Gigli on YouTube
5. Giovanni Martinelli on YouTube
6. Jan Peerce on YouTube
7. Mario Lanza on YouTube
8. Alfredo Kraus on YouTube
9. Plácido Domingo on YouTube
10. Luciano Pavarotti on YouTube
11. José Carreras on YouTube
12. Joan Sutherland on YouTube
13. Mario del Monaco on YouTube
14. Jovanotti & Pavarotti on YouTube
15. Tito Beltrán on YouTube
16. Il Volo on YouTube

Scores

• IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library