Luciano Pavarotti’s sweet, powerful voice always sounds, to me, like a benediction. Never more so than in this sentimental Italian carol Mille Cherubini in Coro, Chorus of 1,000 Cherubs. The lyrics, set to a melody by Schubert, are about a choir of cherubs looking over the baby Jesus . . . and every baby.
Detail from Madonna of the Pomegranate by Sandro Botticelli.
These are the lyrics in Italian and English. . .
Mille Cherubini in Coro
Dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor mio.
Dormi, sogna,
posa il capo sul mio cor.
Mille cherubini in coro
ti sorridono dal ciel.
Una dolce canzone
t’accarezza il crin
Una man ti guida lieve
fra le nuvole d’or,
sognando e vegliando
su te, mio tesor,
proteggendo il tuo cammin.
Su te, mio tesor,
proteggendo il tuo cammin.
Dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor mio.
Dormi, sogna,
posa il capo sul mio cor.
Chiudi gli occhi,
ascolta gli angioletti,
dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor.
Dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor mio.
Dormi, sogna,
posa il capo sul mio cor.
Chiudi gli occhi,
ascolta gli angioletti,
dormi, dormi,
sogna, piccolo amor.
Sogna, piccolo amor.
A Choir of a Thousand Cherubs
Sleep, sleep,
dream, my little love.
Sleep, dream, ,
rest your head on my breast.
A choir of a thousand cherubs
smiles on you from the sky
A sweet song
caresses your brow,
A hand is gently guiding you
through the clouds of gold,
dreaming and keeping watch
over you, my treasure,
protecting your path through life.
Over you, my treasure,
protecting your path through life.
Sleep, sleep,
dream, my little love.
Sleep, dream,
rest your head on my breast.
Close your eyes,
listen to the little angels,
sleep, sleep,
dream, my little love.
Sleep, sleep,
dream, my little love.
Sleep, dream, ,
rest your head on my breast.
Close your eyes,
listen to the little angels,
sleep, sleep,
dream, my little love.
Dream, my little love.