June 30, 2011 (Vesti La Giubba - I Pagliacci)

For Akeel & Friends...

Aria: Vesti La Giubba

Language: Italian

Performer: Luciano Pavarotti

Opera: I Pagliacci

Composer: Ruggero Leoncavallo

Libretto: Catulle Mendès

First Performed: 1892

Translation of the text:

Act! While in delirium,
I no longer know what I say,
or what I do!
And yet it's necessary... make an effort!
Bah! Are you not a man?
You are a clown!

Put on your costume,
powder your face.
The people pay to be here, and they want to laugh.
And if harlequin shall steal your Columbina,
laugh, clown, so the crowd will cheer!
Turn your distress and tears into jest,
your pain and sobbing into a funny face - Ah!

Laugh, clown,
at your broken love!
Laugh at the grief that poisons your heart!

June 29, 2011 (Embroidery In Childhood - Peter Grimes)

Aria: Embroidery In Childhood
Language: English
Performer: Patricia Racette
Opera: Peter Grimes
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Libretto: Montagu Slater
First Performed: 1945


Translation of text:


Not needed. Piece in English.

June 28, 2011 (Mein Herr Marquis - Die Fledermaus)

Aria: Mein Herr Marquis
Language: German
Performer: Isabel Rey
Opera: Die Fledermaus [English: The Bat]
Composer: Johann Strauß II
Libretto: Karl Haffner & Richard Genée
First Performed: 1874


Translation of the text:


My dear Marquis
Why must you be
So loathe to use your eyes
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And closely scrutinise

My fingers, my ankles, my feet
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection show polish to perfection
Such graces are the traces of our old elite
Such graces are the traces of our old elite

I marvel how a man like you
Could fail to see my blood was blue
What a gorgeous, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha

What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis, oh, what a wag you are

Profiles they say
Give the game away
When formed with classic grace
If the head on view
Isn't much to you
Then look at me side-face

What evidence more can there be, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at soirees without fee, ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension
Such graces are the traces of a pedigree
Such graces are the traces of a pedigree

All's one to you, though I'm afraid
Because you love a parlour maid
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha

June 27, 2011 (This Is Prophetic! - Nixon In China)

Aria: The Is Prophetic!

Language: English

Performer: Carolann Page

Opera: Nixon In China

Composer: John Adams

Libretto: Alice Goodman

First Performed: 1987

Translation of the text:

Not needed. Piece in English.

June 26, 2011 (Je Veux Vivre - Roméo Et Juliette)

Aria: Je Veux Vivre
Language: French
Performer: Diana Damrau
Opera: Roméo Et Juliette [English: Romeo & Juliette]
Composer: Charles Gounod
Libretto: Jules Barbier & Michel Carré
First Performed: 1867

Translation of the text:

I want to live 

In this dream which intoxicates me 

This day still, 

Sweet flame 

I keep you in my soul

Like a treasure!

I want to live, etc. 

This intoxication of youth 

Lasts, alas, only for one day! 

Then comes the hour 

When one weeps. 

Far from the morose winter 

Let me, let me slumber 

And inhale the rose, 

Before plucking its petals. 

Ah! - Ah! - Ah! 

Sweet flame! 

Stay in my soul 

Like a sweet treasure 

For a long time still. 

Ah! - Like a treasure 

For a long time still.

June 25, 2011 (Habanera - Carmen)

Aria: Habanera
Language: French
Performer: Anna Caterina
Opera: Carmen
Composer: Georges Bizet
Libretto: Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
First Performed: 1875


Translation of the text:


Video subtitled in English

June 24, 2011 (Der Hölle Rache - Die Zauberflöte)

Aria: Der Hölle Rache
Language: German
Performer: Diana Damrau
Opera: Die Zauberflöte [English: The Magic Flute]
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto: Emanuel Schikaneder
First Performed: 1791


Translation of the text:


Hell's vengeance boils in my heart;
Death and despair blaze around me!
If Sarastro does not feel the pain of death because of you,
Then you will be my daughter nevermore.

Disowned be forever,
Forsaken be forever,
Shattered be forever
All the bonds of nature
If Sarastro does not turn pale [in death] because of you!
Hear, gods of vengeance, hear the mother's oath!

June 23, 2011 (Largo Al Factotum - Il Barbiera Di Sevigila)

Aria: Largo Al Factotum
Language: Italian
Performer: Pietro Spagnoli
Opera: Il Barbiera Di Sevigila [English: The Barber Of Seville]
Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Libretto: Cesare Sterbini
First Performed: 1816

Translation of the text:


Make way for the factotum of the city,
Hurrying to his shop since dawn is already here.
Ah, what a fine life, what fine pleasure
For a barber of quality!


Ah, bravo Figaro!
Bravo, bravissimo!
A most fortunate man indeed!


Ready to do everything
Night and day,
Always on the move.
A cushier fate for a barber,
A more noble life, is not to be had.


Razors and combs,
Lancets and scissors,
At my command
Everything's there.
Here are the tools
Of my trade
With the ladies...with the gentlemen...


Everyone asks for me, everyone wants me,
Ladies, young lads, old men, young girls:
Here is the wig...the beard is ready...
Here are the leeches...
The note is ready...
Here is the wig, the beard is ready,
The note is ready, hey!


Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!, etc.
Ah, what frenzy!
Ah, what a crowd!
One at a time, please!
Hey, Figaro! I'm here.
Figaro here, Figaro there,
Figaro up, Figaro down,


Swifter and swifter, I'm like a thunderbolt:
I'm the factotum of the city.
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo,
You'll never lack for luck!

June 22, 2011 (La Donna È Mobile - Rigoletto)

Aria: La Donna È Mobile
Language: Italian
Performer: Luciano Pavarotti
Opera: Rigoletto
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi 
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
First Performed: 1851


Translation of the text:

This woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changes in voice — and in thought.
Always sweet,
Pretty face,
In tears or in laughter, — she is a liar.

Refrain

The woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changes in voice and in thought,
And in thought!
And in thought!

Always miserable
Is he who trusts her,
He who confides in her — his unwary heart!
Yet one never feels
Fully happy
Who on that bosom — does not drink love!

Refrain

Woman is flighty
Like a feather in the wind,
She changed her words,
And her thoughts!
And her thoughts!