Vide Cor Meum

"Vide Cor Meum" ("See my heart") is a song composed by Irish composer Patrick Cassidy based on Dante's "La Vita Nuova", specifically on the sonnet "A ciascun'alma presa", in chapter 3 of the "Vita Nuova".

Composition

The song was produced by Patrick Cassidy and Hans Zimmer and was performed by Libera / The Lyndhurst Orchestra, conducted by Gavin Greenaway. Singers are Danielle de Niese and Bruno Lazzaretti, who play Beatrice and Dante, respectively.

Productions

The song first appeared in the movie Hannibal (2001), while Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Inspector Pazzi see an outdoor opera in Florence, and was specially composed for the movie. This aria was chosen to be performed at the Oscars in 2002 during the presentation of a lifetime achievement award to producer Dino De Laurentiis and at the 53rd Annual Emmy awards.

It was also used in Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven (2005), during King Baldwin IV's death scene and funeral.

As an homage to the films, the score was used in the final scene of the first and second season finales of NBC's Hannibal.