Questa o Quella

Luciano Pavarotti's rendition of 'Questa o Quella' is a powerful aria from Giuseppe Verdi's opera 'Rigoletto.' The song is sung by the Duke of Mantua, a character known for his libertine lifestyle and cavalier attitude towards love and relationships. The lyrics reflect the Duke's philosophy that all women are equally desirable to him, and he feels no particular loyalty or attachment to any one woman. This perspective is evident from the opening lines, 'Questa o quella per me pari sono,' which translates to 'This one or that one, for me, they're the same.'

The Duke's view of love is further elaborated as he describes his heart as an empire that he will not surrender to any single beauty. He sees the attractiveness of women as a gift from fate that adorns life, and he is content to enjoy the company of one woman today and perhaps another tomorrow. This fickle and hedonistic approach to love is underscored by his dismissal of constancy as a tyrant of the heart, which he detests like a cruel disease. For the Duke, true love cannot exist without freedom, and he mocks the jealous rage of husbands and the madness of lovers.

Pavarotti's powerful voice brings out the Duke's arrogance and charm, making the character's libertine philosophy both captivating and repellent. The aria is a brilliant example of how Verdi uses music to develop complex characters and explore themes of love, freedom, and fidelity. The Duke's disdain for commitment and his celebration of personal liberty resonate with the broader themes of the opera, making 'Questa o Quella' a pivotal moment in 'Rigoletto.'