La Wally, based on a novel by W. von Hillem, is Catalani's best and most popular opera. In its many lyrical passages and Wagnerian harmonies, it represents the ideals of the Scapigliatura (a period of Italian cultural renewal that anticipated the Verismo). The most popular extract is the heroine's famous aria "Ebben? ne andro lontana", used in the submarine film, Crimson Tide.

Set in the Alps, La Wally is particularly noted for its evocations of the cold, making use of icily thin scoring and the extremes of the piccolo and double bass. It was first performed at La Scala, Milan in January 1892 and later a series of performances at Lucca were conducted by the great Arturo Toscanini, who named his daughter after the opera's heroine.

Movement 9 : Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana

La Wally has been told by her father that she must marry his friend Gellner or leave the house. She is in love with Hagenbach and therefore knows that she must leave her parental home with all its wonderful memories. While stiffening her resolve, she bids a sad farewell to her beloved home.

Ebbene? ... N'andrò lontana,
come va l'eco della pia campana,
là, fra la neve bianca;
là, fra le nubi d'or;
là, dov'è la speranza, la speranza
il rimpianto, il rimpianto, e il dolor!
O della madre mia casa gioconda,
la Wally n'andrà da te,
da te lontana assai,
e forse a te, e forse a te,
non farà mai più ritorno,
nè più la rivedrai!
mai più, mai più!
N'andrò sola e lontana,
come l'eco è della pia campana,
là, fra la neve bianca;
n'andrò, n'andrò sola e lontana!
e fra le nubi d'or!