Rossini: “Una Voce Poco Fa”: Transcribed for Cello

This transcription for cello of Rossini’s aria “Una Voce Poco Fa” from the opera “The Barber of Seville” (1816) is based on the version sung by Maria Callas (video visible here). This version incorporates considerable “improvements” on Rossini’s original version, including notably several brilliant little cadenza passages. We have taken the liberty of double-dotting many of the rhythms in both piano and cello (notating them “a l’italiana”). Does this make it too “tight” or does it on the contrary give the music a really crisp, sparkling, “al dente” italian feel? The Easier Version has all the higher passages transposed down an octave to stay in the Neck Region. Print on A4 paper for best results.

Edited Performance Version    Clean Performance Version      Easier Version      Piano Score

A play-along audio of the piano accompaniment can be found here below. If we actually download it then we can play it at different tempi with the wonderfully useful and simple Amazing Slowdowner program:

By clicking here a Youtube video recording of this cello transcription can be seen.