Canti Italiani

It may be surprising to learn that within the ample corpus of compositions for voice by Ludwig van Beethoven more than a few are based, with varied instrumentation, on Italian poetic texts. Proceeding on the basis of this fact, the present Edition brings together, presented in chronological order, all the (complete) ‘Canti Italiani’ conceived for one / two voices and pianoforte, composed within the period dating from between circa 1792 and 1811: the intention is to offer a collection that will allow the value of a part of the Beethovian vocal output that is still, unjustly, given little attention to be fully appreciated.

O care selve, o cara, La partenza and the Quattro Ariette e un Duetto Op. 82 are based on Italian texts by the poet Metastasio (as are the “Canti a cappella” and some cantatas, including the famous Ah! perfido! Op. 65), while In questa tomba oscura, here offered in the two known versions (both autographs), is a setting of lines by the poet Giuseppe Carpani.1 Also included in this Edition are Vita felice (Lebensglück) Op. 88 and Nel giardino solingo (or the very well-known Adelaide Op. 46), with the text in an Italian translation published during Beethoven’s time and approved by him. […]

This Edition of the Canti italiani derives from a new, careful and considered reading of the earliest sources. An assessment of these, together with a brief summary of the music-history context, is given for each individual piece in the collection. To promote the greatest possible uptake, in performative terms, of these compositions, this Edition offers transposed versions for each, adopting a practice, as the sources testify, already common in Beethoven’s time.