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SATURDEE OPRY LINKS 54:
French Leave Edition
 
Enrico Caruso and hat
Teresa Berganza
Saturdee Opry Links Overture
"Romeo et Juliette," by Gounod.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOQoS-UZ__k
1.
Romeo has escaped from his companions in search of Juliet's room. He finally
spies her on her balcony and sings of her beauty, likening it to the sun. The
words are almost exactly translated from Shakespeare. Here is "Ah! Leve-toi,
soleil," from Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette," as incomparably sung by Jussi
Bjorling. "Ah, rise, sun!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o0rdVhlXJE
Translation:
http://www.aria-database.com/translations/romeo07_levetoi.txt
2.
And Juliet, for her part. . .sings that she would like to live inside her dream
where it is eternally spring, rather than marry. "Je Veux Vivre," from Gounod's
"Romeo et Juliette." "I want to live in this dream that intoxicates me." Diana
Damrau.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1qBJNjX3Gw
Translation:
http://www.aria-database.com/translations/romeo03_je2.txt
And just for fun. . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-yUO8mytbs
3.
Old Gounod wrote twelve operas (and a symphony), but only "Faust" and "Romeo and
Juliet" are performed today. Here's another rousing item from "Romeo," the
baritone aria, "Allons! jeunes gens!" "Let's go, young men! Let's go, young
ladies!" Go where? Listen and find out. Here is baritone Charles Cambon, and chorus. Lord Capulet
exhorts his guests to dance and enjoy themselves. Hear, hear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4L6GiuW1Sc
Translation:
http://www.aria-database.com/translations/romeo01_allons.txt
4.
Continuing in a Franch mood, here is a lovely aria making its SOL debut: "Ell Ne
Croyait Pas," from “Mignon,” by Ambroise Thomas. A melody conveying yearning, in
this case, by a young student (Wilhelm) wishing that his beloved, Mignon, be
restored to innocence and joy. Sung delicately by tenor Leopold Simoneau. "She
did not believe. . ."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA81o3XN7PM
Translation:
https://books.google.com/books?id=5gSt1U-4x2EC&pg=PA524&lpg=PA524&dq=elle+ne+croyait+pas,+dans+sa+candeu+naive+translation&source=bl&ots=1dbycti_Fs&sig=vMTnG0RE7YAVyQUycArWcI_S9Aw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjU-4qv_8PYAhVFsVQKHViTBR8Q6AEIVzAE#v=onepage&q=elle%20ne%20croyait%20pas%2C%20dans%20sa%20candeu%20naive%20translation&f=false
5.
"Mignon" has four or five memorable little arias. "Connais-tu le pays où fleurit
l'oranger?" is perhaps the most memorable. "Do you know the country where the
orange flowers blossom," Mignon sings gently, after being rescued from gypsies
who kidnapped her as a child, by two men: Wilhelm and Lothario. After splitting
a bouquet of flowers between the men as a token of her gratitude, she speaks
with Wilhelm about her past, telling him about her abduction, poignantly
describing what she can remember of her original home. Here is one Lucile Vignon
in the title role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_PLBkT82s
Translation:
https://www.thoughtco.com/connais-tu-le-pays-lyrics-and-text-translation-724044
6.
Call today's edition of SOL "taking French leave" of 2017 (sneaking out when
nobody is looking) and saying bon jour to 2018. Here is a noble prayer to gawd
from Massenet's "Le Cid," "O Souverain, ô Juge, ô Pere ("Oh Lord, Oh Judge, Oh
Father.") In a tent, outside Burgos, Spain, 11th century, the knight, Rodrique,
knowing he is likely to die before a battle against an overwhelming army of
Moors, prays. This aria is often sung with unbridled heroism, but here, Caruso
imbues it with a softness and poetic restraint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auQ7BZgIQr4
Translation:
http://3-tenors.blogspot.com/2011/03/o-souverain-o-juge-o-pere-oh-lord-oh.html
7.
I prefer love arias that are about places, and nature, instead of people. Hell
with people, you know? Here is one such, from Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots"
(Another SOL aria debut.) This is "Ô beau pays de la Touraine," or "O beautiful
province of Touraine." Exactly what is going on here, I dunno, other than. . .In
the gardens at the Château de Chenonceaux, Queen Marguerite looks into a mirror
held by her enamoured page Urbain, and sings. Here performed by the exquisite
Montserrat Caballe. (Note: aria ends around 4:20.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=138&v=pBf_8Eky_7E
Translation:
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/%C3%B4-beau-pays-de-la-touraine-oh-beautiful-region-touraine.html
8.
Here is an obscure little gem from a Gounod opera, "Cinq-Mars," which is about
five sopranos stranded on Mars with no tenors or baritones. Just kidding! Not a
bad idea, really. Here is an actual summary of the opera, stolen from the
Internet:
"The story of the opera revolves round the Marquis de Cinq-Mars and his fellow
conspirators, who plot to rid France of the over-powerful Richelieu. Cinq-Mars
is spurred on to rebellion when he is informed by Père Joseph that, despite
having the king’s blessing on his proposed marriage, he is to yield the princess
Marie de Gonzague to the king of Poland. Ignoring the warning of his friend de
Thou, Cinq-Mars organises an alliance with Spain and is condemned to death for
treason. Père Joseph tricks Marie into accepting the king of Poland in order to
obtain a pardon; but Cinq-Mars and de Thou are executed anyway, Marie’s rescue
attempt coming too late." Here,soprano Magdalena Kozena tenderly sings "Nuit
Resplendissante." Why she sings it, I don't know, but judging by the
translation, the princess is alone on a beautiful night, waiting for what she
hopes will be good news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woPPRPPPMNw
Translation: (scroll to end of music)
http://home.earthlink.net/~mdl-pdfs/pdfs/CinqNuit_062109.pdf
9.
For those who feel more like drinking now, in early 2018, than they did on New
Year's Eve, here is a little ditty for you. "Ah quel diner" from "La Perichole,"
a comic opera by Offenbach. Here is Teresa Berganza.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6NKi_Vbe0U
Translation:
"Ah, what a lunch I had, and such extraordinary wine
I drank so much of it, so much, so much
that I am fairly certain that now
I am a litttttttle tipsy
(Shh!)
We must not let anyone know
(Shh!)
If my speech is somewhat vague
And while walking I zigzag
If my eye wanders
Do not be surprised, because
I am a littttttttle tipsy."
http://musicweb.ucsd.edu/concerts/concert_programs/2011-12/Winter%202012/20120317-KaganskayaSS.pdf
About the opera:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_P%C3%A9richole
FINAL BOW:
The extraordinary Nicolai Gedda, who performed operas in French, Russian,
German, Italian, English, Czech, Swedish, and Latin, with the ruminative "Salut
demeure chaste et pure" ("I greet you, home chaste and pure") from Gounod's
"Faust." As I said earlier, I prefer love arias that pay tribute to places, and
nature, rather than people. (Even if Faust is thanking nature for having created
Marguerite here.) The aria might seem to lack superior lyrical
inspiration---until, that is, you get to the high note at the end, which redeems
the entire proceedings. In my silly opinion. And on that note. . .welcome to
2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4yqbPFmIWc
Translation:
http://www.aria-database.com/search.php?individualAria=373
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