Writing his own lyrics under the fanciful pen-name of Flick-Flock, Italian composer Stanislao Gastaldon is today mainly remembered for this serenade, written in 1881 when he was only 20. Previous Opera Queensland Young Artist tenor Virgilio Marino here performs this song, originally conceived for soprano.

Far from being a typical sentimental ballad of its time, the song surprises us with its unusual changes of mood and harmony.

If the melody of ‘Musica proibita’ or ‘Forbidden song’ sounds familiar, listen again to Jessica Low’s rendition of ‘O promise me’, written less than a decade later, and you will hear the similarity!