Vissi d'arte

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Vissi d'arte is a soprano aria from Act II of the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. It is sung by Tosca as she thinks of her fate and of her lover’s life which is at the mercy of Baron Scarpia. The aria begins “I lived for my art, I lived for love, I never did harm to a living soul!”. She questions God for allowing her to make a decision to give away her dignity in the exchange for her lover’s life.

For Art, For Love

I lived for art, I lived for love,
I did no harm to any living soul!
With a secret hand
I aided all the misfortunates I knew.
Always with sincere faith
My prayer
Rose to the holy tabernacles.
Always with sincere faith
I gave flowers to the altar.
In the hour of sorrow
Why, why, Lord,
Ah, why do you reward me thus?
I gave jewels to the robe of the Madonna,
And gave song to the stars, to the sky,
Which smiled all the more beautifully.
In the hour of sorrow
Why, why, Lord
Ah, why do you reward me thus?