"Recondita armonia" is the first romanza in the opera Tosca (1900) by Giacomo Puccini. It is sung by the painter Mario Cavaradossi when comparing his love, Tosca, to a portrait of Mary Magdalene that he is painting.[1]
L'arte nel suo mistero,le diverse bellezze insiem confonde...Ma nel ritrar costei,Il mio solo pensiero,Ah! Il mio sol pensier sei tu,Tosca, sei tu!
Art, in its mysterious way,blends the contrasting beauties together...But while I'm painting her,My only thought,My only thought is of you,Tosca, it is of you!