This song is probably O sole mio's and Funiculi, funicula's main competition for the distinction of being the best-known Italian song outside of Italy. It has been a favorite of opera and popular Italian singers and their audiences ever since its premiere, and at least some of its popularity is due to the contemporary development of the phonograph.
DeCurtis' brother, Giambattista, wrote the lyrics in the traditional Neapolitan dialect. As in many of these songs, the beauty of nature, especially the sea, is closely linked with love. The song opens, "See how beautiful the sea is, stirring so many feelings, like the way thinking of you makes me dream. Look at the gardens, feel the breezes, and the scents which go straight to the heart." The lover then pleads, "And you say, 'I'm going, goodbye, ' you're leaving my heart, this land of love, taking my heart and not returning? But don't leave me, don't cause me such torment, return to Surriento, bring me back to life!"
The opening of the song is very gentle and lyrical, with the instruments in the orchestra evoking the breezes the lover sings about. The pleas to return to Surriento ("torna a Surriento") are more dramatic, and one particularly effective moment is the repeat of "but don't leave me" ("ma nun me lassa"), which is to be sung quite softly, adding variety and a note of wistful longing as well as the more directly sung yearnings of the previous verses. ~ Anne Feeney, Rovi
| 1944: His First Recordings |
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| 41 Golden Opera Treasures |
1998 |
| 42 Great Performances |
2001 |
| A Celebration |
1999 |
| A Passion for Pavarotti: The Barcelona Recital |
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| A Passion for Pavarotti: The Neapolitan Songbook |
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| A Portrait of Pavarotti |
2001 |
| A Taste of Italy, Vol. 1: Italian Love Songs |
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| A Taste of Italy: Music for Dining |
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| A Tenor at the Movies |
1998 |
| A Trip Through Tuscany |
2003 |
| A-Z of European Travel & Music: Italian Music |
|
| Abballati: Neopolitan & Sicilian Folk Songs |
2004 |
| Alfie Boe: Onward / La Passione |
2011 |
| Alfred Hause Presents: Mario Andres |
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| All of the World's Most Beautiful Melodies (Box Set) |
1995 |
| Amore |
2008 |
| Amore: Essential Romantic Collection |
2001 |
| Amore: Romantic Italian Love Songs |
1992 |
| An Evening in Tuscany |
2004 |
| Andiamo: Love, from Italy [DVD Video] |
2007 |
| Andre Rieu: Live in New York |
2007 |
| André Rieu Live In Sydney 2009 |
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| Apollo |
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| Arie d'Opera e canzoni napoletane |
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| Arrivederci |
2011 |
| Arrivederci |
2011 |
| Arrivederci [17 Track Version] |
2011 |
| Audio Archive Classics: Jussi Björling |
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| Ave Maria |
1993 |
| Ave Maria |
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| Ave Maria: Classical Favorites for Strings (Box Set) |
1998 |
| Bad Education (La Mala Educación) (Original Soundtrack) |
2004 |
| Be My Love [RCA] |
1991 |
| Be My Love: Classic Live Performances from the Legendary Tenor |
1999 |
| Because of You |
2004 |
| Bel Canto |
1995 |
| Beniamino Gigli in Concert 1938-1955 |
1993 |
| Beniamino Gigli in Concert 1938-1955 |
1993 |
| Beniamino Gigli-Recital al Teatro Gran Rex di Buenos Aires |
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| Beniamino Gigli: Arias, Duets And Songs 1926-1937 |
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| Beniamino Gigli: Gigli Edition |
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| Beniamino Gigli: The HMV Recordings, 1933-35 |
1999 |
| Best of Pavarotti |
1998 |
| Best of Pavarotti |
1998 |
| Best-Loved Neapolitan Songs |
2004 |
| Black & White Album |
2007 |
| Bluebird Of Happiness |
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| Bridges to Italy |
2003 |
| Bruno Venturini, Vol. 2: Funiculì Funiculà |
2004 |
| Cafe Italia [Metro] |
2002 |
| Canciones Napolitanas |
2002 |
| Canzoni Napoletane e Popolari |
2007 |
| Canzoni Napolitane |
1997 |
| Canzoni Popolari, Romane E Napoletane |
2008 |
| Carreras Domingo Pavarotti En Concierto |
1990 |
| Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti in Concert |
1990 |
| Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti in Concert |
1990 |
| Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti in Concert |
1990 |
| Carrisi: Canta Caruso |
2002 |
| Caruso & the Legendary Tenors |
1997 |
| Charles Kullman, Tenor |
1994 |
| Classic Gold: The Great Italian Tenors |
1996 |
| Claudio Villa, Vol. 1: O Sole Mio |
2004 |
| Concert in the Park |
1991 |
| Das Beste von Luciano Pavarotti |
2008 |
| Decompressed |
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| Essential Gold |
2004 |
| Famous Italian Songs |
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| Famous Neapolitan Songs (Box Set) |
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| Famous Neapolitan Songs (Box Set) |
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| Fernando de Lucia |
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| For Lovers Only: The Romantic Pavarotti (Includes Bonus CD) |
2005 |
| From the Heart: Italian Arias & Neapolitan Songs |
1996 |
| Gigli: His Greatest Hits on Radio During the Italian Thirties (1926-1940) |
1996 |
| Giovanna: The Best of My Life |
2009 |
| Giovanni Martinelli Recordings 1925 - 29 |
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| Giuseppe Danise |
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| Giuseppe Di Stefano Sings Neapolitan Songs |
1997 |
| Giuseppe Di Stefano: The Early Years |
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| Giuseppe di Stefano Sings Verdi, Puccini, Bellini, Bizet, Mascagni, Thomas |
2008 |
| Golden Opera Treasures |
1998 |
| Granada: Mario Lanza at His Best |
2000 |
| Grandi Voci: Mario del Monaco |
1993 |
| Great Opera Tenors: Beniamino Gigli |
2000 |
| Great Opera Tenors: Franco Corelli |
1999 |
| Great Voices of the Twentieth Century: Beniamino Gigli |
2005 |
| Greatest Hits |
1993 |
| Greatest Tenor Show on Earth |
1999 |
| Große Tenöre der Musikgeschichte, Vol. 2 |
2006 |
| Gröna Lund Recordings, Vol. 1 |
1992 |
| Hear My Song |
|
| Hear My Song [Prism Classics] |
2001 |
| Hear My Song, Violetta (Original Recordings 1947-1950) |
2001 |
| Helmut Lotti Goes Classic: The Red Album |
2005 |
| Helmut Lotti Goes Classic: The Red Album [Special CD & DVD Edition] |
2005 |
| Holiday in Italy |
1996 |
| Holiday in Italy |
|
| Icon: Beniamino Gigli |
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| Icon: Franco Corelli |
2009 |
| Icon: Luciano Pavarotti |
|
| Il Meglio |
1990 |
| Il Mito dell'Opera: Daniele Barioni, Vol. 2 |
|
| Italia Mia/Verzauberter Klang Aus Germany |
2003 |
| Italia! |
1994 |
| Italian & Neapolitan Songs |
2011 |
| Italian Intermezzo |
2000 |
| Italian Songs |
1989 |
| Italian Wedding Music [Delta] |
2006 |
| Italian and French Opera Arias |
1990 |
| Italy |
2000 |
| Italy: Funiculi Funicula |
2007 |
| Italy: Funiculi Funicula |
2007 |
| Jan Peerce Neapolitan Serenade |
1994 |
| José Carreras: The Golden Years |
1999 |
| Jussi Bjoerling: Live Recordings 1929-1960 |
|
| Jussi Björling Collection, Vol. 2: Songs in Swedish, 1929-1937 |
2002 |
| Jussi Björling Early Recordings 1929 - 36 |
|
| Jussi Björling Early Swedish Recordings |
1993 |
| Jussi Björling in Song |
2008 |
| Jussi Björling, Vol. 3-Songs And Arias |
|
| Jussi Björling: Early Swedish Recordings 1929 - 1936 |
1999 |
| Kammersänger: Rudolf Schock |
|
| Katia Ricciarelli: Nuttata 'e sentimento |
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| La Bella Voce di Tenore |
2005 |
| La Favolose Canzoni di Napoli |
|
| La Mauvaise Education [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |
2005 |
| La Passione |
2007 |
| Lauritz Melchior: Complete MGM Recordings, 1946-47 |
2000 |
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Gianni Poggi, Vol. 2 |
|
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Giuseppe Danise |
|
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Herbert Erst Groh II |
|
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Jan Peerce, Vol. 2 |
2003 |
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Pasquale Amato |
|
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Richard Tucker |
|
| Lebendige Vergangenheit: Tito Schipa, Vol. 5 |
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| Legendary Performers: Mario Lanza |
1976 |
| Legends |
2004 |
| Legends: José Carreras |
2009 |
| Leo Eide, Whistling Virtuoso |
1996 |
| Leoncavallo, Curtis, Bixio and others |
|
| Les plus belles Chansons d'amour |
1991 |
| Live at Kapi'olani Park |
1997 |
| Live in Modena 1985 |
1993 |
| Live in New York [Deluxe Version] |
2007 |
| Living a Dream |
2005 |
| Living a Dream |
2005 |
| Living a Dream [Bonus Tracks] |
2005 |
| Los Angeles 1973 (Recital UCLA Campus 1973) |
|
| Love, From Italy |
2007 |
| Love, from Italy [B&N Exclusive] |
2007 |
| Luciano Pavarotti & Friends Together for the Children of Bosnia |
1996 |
| Luciano Pavarotti in Concert |
1987 |
| Luciano Pavarotti: Grammy Album |
2000 |
| Luciano Pavarotti: In Memoriam [Box Set] |
2007 |
| Luciano Pavarotti: The Best |
2005 |
| Luciano Pavarotti: The Best |
2005 |
| Luciano Pavarotti: The Best |
2005 |
| Mandolins from Italy: 24 Most Popular Melodies |
2001 |
| Mario Lanza - The Legendary Tenor |
1987 |
| Mario Lanza [BCI] |
2003 |
| Mario Lanza: In Concert |
1994 |
| Memories |
|
| Memories |
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| Michael Amante |
2001 |
| My Life Belongs To You |
2002 |
| Napoli, Bella Napoli |
1999 |
| Neapolitan Cafe |
2001 |
| Neapolitan Cafe |
2001 |
| Neapolitan Mandolins |
1997 |
| Neapolitan Songs |
1997 |
| Neapolitan Songs |
|
| New York Memories |
2006 |
| New York Memories |
2006 |
| Nocturnes, Songs, Arias & Etudes |
1998 |
| O Sole Mio |
1983 |
| O Sole Mio |
|
| O Sole Mio |
1983 |
| O Sole Mio - Favorite Neapolitan Songs |
1983 |
| O Sole Mio: Die schönsten Liebeslieder aus Bella Italia |
1996 |
| O Sole Mio: Favourite Neapolitan Songs |
|
| O Sole Mio: Five Famous Tenors |
1998 |
| O Sole Mio: Italian Arias, Songs and Mandolins |
1999 |
| O Sole Mio: Italian Songs & Arias |
1996 |
| O Sole Mio: Neapolitan Folk Songs |
|
| O Sole Mio: Neapolitan Folk Songs |
|
| O Sole Mio: Neapolitan Folk Songs |
|
| O Sole Mio: The Most Famous Italian Folk Songs |
2004 |
| O Sole Mio: The Very Best of Neapolitan Songs |
|
| O felici orecchi miei! Veccie e celebri canzone napoletane |
|
| Omaggio a Tito Schipa: Five Italian Tenors in Concert |
|
| On Wings of Song |
|
| Operatic Arias and Neapolitan Songs |
1996 |
| Original Three Tenors: 20th Anniversary Special Edition (Spec) |
2010 |
| Para Siempre |
|
| Passione Mediterranea |
2006 |
| Passione di Napoli |
2001 |
| Passione di Napoli [SACD] |
2001 |
| Passione di Napoli [SACD] |
2001 |
| Pavane for a Dead Princess |
1999 |
| Pavarotti Edition |
2001 |
| Pavarotti Edition: Italian Popular Songs |
2001 |
| Pavarotti Forever |
2007 |
| Pavarotti Forever |
2007 |
| Pavarotti Forever |
2007 |
| Pavarotti Gold |
2007 |
| Pavarotti Magic |
2007 |
| Pavarotti Magic [St. Clair] |
1997 |
| Pavarotti Magic: An Exclusive Recital |
1997 |
| Pavarotti Songbook |
1991 |
| Pavarotti Songbook |
1991 |
| Pavarotti a Modena |
|
| Pavarotti in Hyde Park |
1991 |
| Pavarotti's Greatest Hits |
1980 |
| Pavarotti's Greatest Hits |
1980 |
| Pavarotti's Greatest Hits |
1980 |
| Pavarotti: Die 18 Mooiste Opnamen van's Werelds Beroemdste Tenor |
1990 |
| Pavarotti: Gala Concert |
1991 |
| Pavarotti: Gala Concert |
1991 |
| Pavarotti: The Studio Albums |
2007 |
| Pavarotti: The Ultimate Collection |
2006 |
| Pedair Oed |
2005 |
| Peter Dvorsky in Concert |
|
| Pipes & Phones |
1999 |
| Plaza de La Libertad |
1997 |
| Popular Songs |
1990 |
| Portrait |
2008 |
| Remember the Movies |
2001 |
| Reprise |
2002 |
| Reprise [2003] |
2002 |
| Return to Sorrento: Italian Songs arranged for Trombone |
2007 |
| Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill & Jan Peerce |
2008 |
| Robert Merrill in Opera & Song [DVD Video] |
|
| Roberto Alagna - Serenades |
1997 |
| Roberto Murolo: Napoli E Le Sue Canzoni |
2007 |
| Romantic Italian Songs |
1962 |
| Romantic Italy |
2006 |
| Romantica |
1999 |
| Romantica: The Very Best of Luciano Pavarotti |
2002 |
| Serenade |
1991 |
| Serenade/A Cavalcade of Show Tunes [Bonus Tracks] |
2004 |
| Serenades / Roberto Alagna, David Alagna, Frederico Alagna |
1997 |
| Serenata Luntana |
2003 |
| Songs And Arias |
1996 |
| Songs from Fonotipia & Gramophone Company Records, Vol. 1 (1909 - 1921) |
|
| Summertime: Beautiful Arias and Classic Songs of Summer |
|
| Tavolata Musicale |
|
| Tenor Extraordinaire |
2007 |
| Tenors Anyone? |
1991 |
| Tenors Anyone?: Great Tenors Sing Pop Favorites |
1991 |
| Tenors on Tour |
|
| The Original Three Tenors: 20th Anniversary Special Edition |
2010 |
| The #1 Tenor Album |
2001 |
| The 30 Tenors |
2002 |
| The American Tenors |
2003 |
| The Art of José Carreras |
|
| The Beginning of a Legend, Vol. 1 (Lausanne, 1944) |
|
| The Best of Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa & Pavarotti |
|
| The Best of José Carerras (The Millenium Collection) |
2005 |
| The Best of José Carreras |
|
| The Best of Luciano Pavarotti [Biodegradable Packaging] |
2004 |
| The Best of Luciano Pavarotti: 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection |
2004 |
| The Best of the Popular Piano Concertos |
1961 |
| The Best of the Three Tenors |
2002 |
| The Broadcast Sessions for German Radio, 1939-42 |
|
| The Complete Electric Recordings, 1928-1930 |
|
| The Decca Recordings |
2011 |
| The Early Recordings, 1906-1912 |
|
| The Essential Collection: Great Tenors |
2006 |
| The Essential Gigli |
1995 |
| The Essential Paravotti |
2008 |
| The Essential Pavarotti |
1990 |
| The Essential Pavarotti |
1990 |
| The Glory of Italy |
1993 |
| The Golden Voice of Mario Lanza |
2006 |
| The Golden Voice of Mario Lanza |
2006 |
| The Great Caruso (Original Soundtrack) |
1989 |
| The Great Tenor Songbook |
|
| The Great Voices of the Century, Vol. 2 |
2005 |
| The Greatest Hits |
1998 |
| The Greatest Pavarotti Album Ever! |
1995 |
| The Hit Men: The Greatest Voices of Our Time |
|
| The José Carreras: The Golden Years |
1999 |
| The Legendary Voice of Maestro Giuseppe di Stefano |
2000 |
| The Legendary Voice of Mario Lanza |
1996 |
| The Man Who Cried (Soundtrack) |
1998 |
| The Mario Lanza Shows |
1996 |
| The Music of Italy |
|
| The Original Three Tenors Concert [DVD Video] |
2007 |
| The Originals: Pavarotti Greatest Hits |
2008 |
| The Pavarotti Story |
2007 |
| The Pavarotti Story [Includes 2 Bonus CDs] |
2007 |
| The Recital - Live |
|
| The Roman Hero |
|
| The Three Tenors |
2006 |
| The Three Tenors in Concert |
1990 |
| The Three Tenors in Concert |
1990 |
| The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 |
1994 |
| The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 |
1994 |
| The Ultimate Collection |
1998 |
| The Ultimate Collection |
1998 |
| The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli |
2003 |
| The Very Best of Franco Corelli |
2003 |
| The Very Best of Giuseppe di Stefano |
2003 |
| The Very Best of the Three Tenors |
2004 |
| The Voice of Italy |
2002 |
| The World's Most Beautiful Melodies, Vol. 4 |
1994 |
| The Young Jussi Björling-His First Recordings 1929-1936 |
|
| Three Tenors: Björling, Gigli, Tauber |
1991 |
| Tiempe Antiche |
|
| Tito Schipa |
|
| Tito Schipa In Recital 1955-1964 |
|
| Tito Schipa in Berlin |
|
| Tito Schipa in Concert |
|
| Titta Ruffo - Volume II |
|
| Titta Ruffo Edition |
|
| Titta Ruffo-Volume III |
|
| Titta Ruffo: Complete Songs 1912 - 1924 |
|
| Tonight |
2008 |
| Torna a Surriento: Canzoni, Vol. 2 |
|
| Torna a Surriento: Neapolitan & Italian Songs |
2004 |
| Torna a Surriento: Songs of Italy & Sicily |
1998 |
| Total Classics |
|
| Treasured Songs of Italy and Germany |
2007 |
| Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti |
2008 |
| Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti |
2008 |
| Ugo Ungaro |
|
| Ungrateful Heart |
2003 |
| Venezia La Festa: Caffè Concerto sulla Piazza San Marco |
1998 |
| Vincerò: Pavarotti's Greatest Hits |
1996 |
| Viva Italia [Decca 2003] |
2003 |
| Viva Italia! Festive Italian Classics |
1996 |
| Vivere: Famous Italian Canzonettas |
2001 |
| Voce 'e Notte |
|
| Volare! Canzoni Italiane Degli Anni '50 |
2008 |
| Without a Song |
1995 |
| Woodsheddin' with Woody |
1994 |
| World's Most Legendary Tenors |
1994 |
| World's a Stage: Music of the Mediterranean [Single Disc] |
2006 |
| You'll Never Walk Alone: The Collection |
2011 |
| Yours for a Song: Romantic Tenor Serenades |
2003 |
| ¡Bravo! |
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