Giuseppe Valdengo - Don Sebastiano: O Lisbona, alfin ti miro (Donizetti) - 1965

The only thing that kept Giuseppe Valdengo (1914--2007) from being remembered today as one of the 20th century's greatest singers was the sheer wealth of superb Verdi baritone predecessors and contemporaries. But make no mistake: this is a world-class voice and an intelligent and sensitive musician, having first studied cello and oboe. Toscanini himself favored him for several broadcasts, including the first telecast of an opera—Aida with Richard Tucker and Herva Nelli (easily found here on YouTube).

We find him here a year before his retirement, pulling out the stops on a bel canto rarity all but forgotten except by the likes of Battistini and Granforte before him.
Scena terza. Camoens solo
CAMOENS
Giuoco di rea fortuna,
povero Camoens! D'Alcazar sul piano.
Per morto abbandonato,
poscia in crudele schiavitù ridotto,
rotti i tuoi ceppi alfine,
fia pur vero che il cielo impietosito
riveder ti conceda il patrio lido?
O Lisbona, alfin ti miro,
riedo alfine, o patria, a te!
L'aura tua ch'io sento e spiro
vita nuova infonde in me!
Scordo l'ansie e l'aspra guerra
che il destro mi fe' soffrir.
Ti riveggo, o sacra terra,
or può farmi il ciel morir!
Pur languente in suol straniero,
senza speme di mercé,
era il cor del prigioniero,
dolce patria, ognor con te!

Видео Giuseppe Valdengo - Don Sebastiano: O Lisbona, alfin ti miro (Donizetti) - 1965 канала Trrill