“Un bel di”, Major Bowes Amateur Hour, 7 April 1935

Major Bowes: Nina... Foresti? Nina Foresti. You're a student of singing, Miss Foresti?

Nina Foresti: Yes, major, I am.

Major Bowes: What’s your ambition – operatic, concert, radio?

Nina Foresti: Well, my ambitions were very high. But since my father’s laboratories have closed... I’ve... taken a position.

Major Bowes: You’ve had to remodel your ambitions. Your father was a chemist. Well, what is...  what are you doing now?

Nina Foresti: Oh, I’m... employed in the... toy department of a large department store.

Major Bowes: You’re Italian American?

Nina Foresti: Yes, major, I was born here in New York.

Major Bowes: And you want to sing something from Puccini, huh?

Nina Foresti: Yes, I would like to.

Major Bowes: Yes, I thought so. They all do. Alright, what do you want to sing?

Nina Foresti: Something from Madame Butterfly...

Major Bowes: Alright.

Nina Foresti: But abbreviated.

Major Bowes: That’s good. Go ahead.

Nina Foresti (singing Butterfly's aria):
Un bel dì, vedremo
Levarsi un fil di fumo
Sull’estremo confin del mare,
E poi la nave appare.
Poi la nave bianca
Entra nel porto,
Romba il suo saluto.
Vedi? È venuto!
Io non gli scendo incontro.
Io no.
Per non morire
Al primo incontro,
Ed egli alquanto in pena
Chiamerà, chiamerà:
"O piccina mogliettina,
olezzo di verbena",
I nomi che mi dava al suo venire.
Tutto questo averrà,
Te lo prometto.
Tienti la tua paura,
Io con sicura fede l’aspetto.

Major Bowes: Nina Foresti – Nina Foresti, who sang an aria from Madame Butterfly.