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"'''La donna è mobile'''" ("Woman is fickle") is the cynical Duke of Mantua's canzone from Giuseppe Verdi's opera ''Rigoletto'' (1851). Its reprise in the last act is chilling, as Rigoletto realizes from the sound of the Duke's lively voice coming from within the tavern (offstage), that the body in the sack is not that of the Duke after all.
The canzone is famous as a showcase for tenors. It has been recorded by Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and hundreds of others. The song can be found on many record labels, including ASV, Naxos Records, Nimbus Records, Parlophone, and Victor.

Contents

The Music

Libretto

Media

The Music

The almost comical-sounding theme of ''La donna è mobile'' is introduced immediately, and runs thus (transposed from the original key of B major):
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The theme is repeated several times in the approximately two minutes it takes to perform the canzone, but with the important -- and obvious -- omission of the last measure. This has the effect of driving the music forward as it creates the impression of being incomplete and unresolved, which it is, having left off not on the tonic or dominant but on the submediant. Once the Duke has finished singing, however, the theme is once again repeated; but this time including the last, and conclusive, measure and finally resolving to the tonic.

Libretto

Original Italian	English Translation	Alternative Translation
''La donna è mobile'' ''Qual piuma al vento,'' ''Muta d'accento — e di pensiero.'' ''Sempre un amabile,'' ''Leggiadro viso,'' ''In pianto o in riso, — è menzognero.'' '''Refrain' ''La donna è mobile qual piuma al vento ''Muta d'accento e di pensier! ''e di pensier! ''e di pensier! ''È sempre misero'' ''Chi a lei s'affida,'' ''Chi le confida — mal cauto il cuore!'' ''Pur mai non sentesi'' ''Felice appieno'' ''Chi su quel seno — non liba amore!'' '''Refrain' ''La donna è mobile ''qual piuma al vento, ''Muta d'accento e di pensier! ''e di pensier! ''e di pensier!	Woman is flighty Like a feather in the wind, She changes her voice — and her mind. Always sweet, Pretty face, In tears or in laughter, — she is always lying. ''Refrain'' Woman is flighty Like a feather in the wind, She changes the tone of her voice and her thoughts, And her thoughts! And her thoughts! Always miserable Is he who trusts her, He who confides in her — his unwary heart! Yet one never feels Fully happy Who on that bosom — does not drink love! ''Refrain'' Woman is flighty Like a feather in the wind, She changes the tone of her voice and her thoughts, And her thoughts! And her thoughts!	Woman is flighty, (or fickle or erratic) That feather in the wind, Silent in the way she speaks - and of thought. (she doesn't tell you what she's really saying or thinking) Always a loveable, Graceful visage, (or beautiful face) That in tears or in laughter - is lying. Always miserable, (or wretched) Is he who trusts her, He who confides in her - incautious his heart! (reckless heart) Though not ever feeling, Fully happy, Who on that bosom, - does not taste love?

Media