Lucrezia Bori sings "Sì, mi chiamano Mimì" from La Bohème on Edison Amberol 40036, recorded in 1913. <br /><br />The great Spanish lyric soprano Lucrezia Bori (1887-1960) sings a great Puccini aria on a rare Amberol cylinder. <br /><br />Bori (born Borja) began her vocal training at the Valencia Conservatory and later studiedl in Milan. <br /><br />She made her debut in Rome's Teatro Adriano as Micaëla in 1908. <br /><br />Bori retired from the stage in 1936. <br /><br />La Boheme has several superb arias, including "Che gelida manina." <br /><br />Rodolfo, who loves Mimi, asks her to tell him about herself. <br /><br />Mimi famously replies that she is called Mimi (later she adds that she doesn't know why!), but her true name is Lucia. <br /><br />Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì, <br />ma il mio nome è Lucia. <br />La storia mia è breve. <br />A tela o a seta <br />ricamo in casa e fuori... <br />Son tranquilla e lieta <br />ed è mio svago <br />far gigli e rose. <br />Mi piaccion quelle cose <br />che han sì dolce malìa, <br />che parlano d'amor, di primavere, <br />di sogni e di chimere, <br />quelle cose che han nome poesia... <br />Lei m'intende? <br />Mi chiamano Mimì, <br />il perché non so. <br />Sola, mi fo <br />il pranzo da me stessa. <br />Non vado sempre a messa, <br />ma prego assai il Signore. <br />Vivo sola, soletta <br />là in una bianca cameretta: <br />guardo sui tetti e in cielo; <br />ma quando vien lo sgelo <br />il primo sole è mio <br />il primo bacio dell'aprile è mio! <br />Germoglia in un vaso una rosa... <br />Foglia a foglia la spio! <br />Cosi gentile il profumo d'un fiore! <br />Ma i fior ch'io faccio, <br />Ahimè! non hanno odore. <br />Altro di me non le saprei narrare. <br />Sono la sua vicina che la vien fuori d'ora a importunare. <br /><br />HERE IS THE ENGLISH: <br /><br />Yes, they call me Mimi, <br />but my true name is Lucia. <br />My story is short. <br />A canvas or a silk <br />I embroidery at home and abroad... <br />I am tranquil, <br />and my pastime <br />is to make lilies and roses. <br />I love all things <br />that have gentle sweet smells, <br />that speak of love, of spring, <br />of dreams and fanciful things, <br />those things that have poetic names ... <br />Do you understand me? <br />They call me Mimi, <br />I do not know why. <br />Alone, I make <br />lunch by myself. <br />I do not go to church, <br />but I pray a lot to the Lord. <br />I stay all alone <br />there in a white room <br />and look upon the roofs and the sky <br />but when the thaw comes <br />The first sun, like my <br />first kiss, is mine! <br />Buds in a vase... <br />Leaf and leaf I spy! <br />That gentle perfume of a flower! <br />But the flowers that I make, <br />Alas! no smell. <br />Other than telling you about me, I know nothing. <br />I am only your neighbor who comes out to bother you. <br /><br />Lucrezia Bori "Sì, mi chiamano Mimì" Puccini's La Bohème on cylinder (1913) Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì.
