Enrico Caruso's recordings of La donna é mobile from Verdi's opera Rigoletto (first performance March 11, 1851 in Venice).
Here are three Caruso recordings from 19 April 1903 (Milan), 1st February 1904 (New York) and 16th March 1908 (New York).
Clearly shows how the recording techniques (and Caruso's singing) rapidly improved.
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 mobil
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 mobil
qual piuma al vento,
Muta d'accento e di pensier!
e di pensier!
e di pensier!
English translation:
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!
