Raise the curtain on Opera Arlington’s third season!
This 50 minute program will reveal the fearless work of artists in the cabaret scene circa the 1920s and 30s. From rarely performed pieces straight out of Weimar to velvety impressionist influenced mélodie, expect to be seduced by an evening of music unlike any other.
FIRST COURSE: ITALY
"Brindisi" from Verdi's La Traviata
[Alfredo]
Let's drink from the joyful glasses
where beauty is blossoming.
Let the fleeRng hour yield to our intoxicaRon. Let’s drink to love’s sweet shivers,
to those eyes that pierce the heart.
Let's drink to love –
to wine that warms our kisses.
[Chorus]
Let’s drink to love – to wine that warms our kisses.
[Violetta]
With you, I would share my days of happiness.
Everything is folly in this world, unless I brings us pleasure. Let's enjoy life,
for the joys of love are swi] and fleeRng -
Like a flower that lives and then dies,
and can no longer be enjoyed.
Let’s take our pleasure!
While its ardent, brilliant summons lure us on.
[Chorus]
Let’s take our pleasure of wine, singing, and joy, unRl the paradise of a new day dawns on us.
[Violetta]
Life is just pleasure...
[Alfredo]
But if one waits for love...
[Violetta]
I know nothing of that – don’t tell me!
[Alfredo]
But it’s there that my fate lies.
[Violetta, Alfredo and Chorus]
Let’s take our pleasure of wine, singing, and joy, unRl the paradise of a new day dawns on us.
"Sempre Libera" from Verdi's La Traviata
[Violetta]
It's madness! It's empty delirium!
A poor, lonely woman
Abandoned in this
teeming desert
They call Paris!
What can I hope?
What should I do?
Enjoy myself!
Plurge into the vortex
Of pleasure and drown there!
Enjoy myself!
Free and aimless I must flutter
From pleasure to pleasure,
Skimming the surface
Of life's primrose path.
As each day dawns,
As each day dies,
Gaily I turn to the new delights
That make my spirit soar.
SECOND COURSE: GERMANY
"Widmung" from Schumann's Myrthen
You my soul, you my heart,
You my rapture, O you my pain,
You my world in which I live,
My heaven you, to which I aspire,
O you my grave, into which
My grief forever I’ve consigned!
You are repose, you are peace,
You are bestowed on me from heaven.
Your love for me gives me my worth,
Your eyes transfigure me in mine,
You raise me lovingly above myself,
My guardian angel, my better self!
"Klange der Heimat" from Strauss' Die Fledermaus
[Rosalinde]
Sounds of my homeland,
you rouse my longing,
bring tears into my eyes!
When I hear you, you songs of home,
I am drawn back, my Hungary, to you!
O homeland so wondrous,
how brightly the sun shines there!
How green your forests, how smiling the meadows,
o land where I was so happy!
Yes, your beloved image quite fills my soul,
your beloved image!
And though I am far, so far from you, for all eternity
my thoughts will evermore
all be dedicated to you alone!
O homeland so wondrous,
how brightly the sun shines there!
Fervor, zest for life swell the true Hungarian breast,
Hurrah! For the sprightly dance
the csárdás sounds loud and clear!
Brown-skinned girl, you must be my dancing partner;
give me your arm quickly, dark-eyed child!
Thirsty tipplers, take up the cup,
pass it swiftly from hand to hand!
Sip the fire in the tokay,
give a cheer from the fatherland! Ha!
Fervor, zest for life
swell the true Hungarian breast,
Hurrah! For the sprightly dance
the csárdás sounds loud and clear!
La, la, la, la, la, la!
THIRD COURSE: SPAIN
“El día que me quieras” by Carlos Gardel
Caress my dream
The soft murmur
Of your sigh
How life laughs
If your dark eyes
Want to look at me
And if yours is the shelter
Of your gentle laughter
Which is like a song
It soothes my wound
Everything, everything is forgotten
The day you love me
The rose that adorns
Will dress up for a party
In its best color
And in the wind the bells
Will say that you are mine
And the fountains, mad with joy
Will tell each other of their love
The night you love me
From the blue of the sky
The jealous stars
Will watch us pass
And a mysterious ray of light
Will nest in your hair
Curious fireflies will see
That you are my comfort
The day you love me
There will be nothing but harmony
The dawn will be clear
And the spring will be joyful
The breeze will bring
The murmur of melody
And the fountains will give us
Their crystal song
The day you love me
The singing bird
Will sweeten its strings
Life will blossom
There will be no pain
The night you love me
"Habanera" from Bizet's Carmen
[Carmen]
Love is a rebellious bird
That no one can tame,
And it is in vain that it is called
If he agrees to refuse.
Nothing works; threat or prayer,
One speaks well, the other is silent;
And that's the other one I prefer,
He did not say anything, but I like him.
Love is Bohemian child,
He never, never knew a law;
If you do not love me, I love you;
If I love you,
Beware!
The bird that you thought surprised
Battled the wing and flew away
Love is far away, you can wait for it
You do not expect him anymore ... he is here
All around you, fast, fast,
He comes, goes, then comes back
You think you're holding him, he's avoiding you,
You think you're avoiding him, he's holding you.
Love is Bohemian child,
He never knew a law;
If you do not love me, I love you;
If I love you,
Beware!
FOURTH COURSE: FRANCE
“Non, vous n’avez jamais” from Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots
[Urbain]
No, no, no, you have never, I take it, no, never heard anything like it from the voice of a young page!
Ah! No, no, no, and the girls of the village will never forget the sight!
Surrounded by people, over his eyes a blindfold, a handsome gentleman appears; gliding like a shadow he passes, and treading lightly he crosses the space; and young and old, follow him with their eyes and say:
"Who is he?" and then, "Where is he going?" and “What is he looking for?”
It's a big hubbub!
The gentleman can't see a thing.
He gropes his way along, his neck stretched out.
The children naughty... tease him with their hands; they throw flowers at him!
It is a laughing and beautiful procession!
Ah! What a laughing and beautiful procession!
The gentleman beneath his blindfold follows, pressed by the young girls of the village, advances, approaches the castle.
What a festival for the castle, what a festival.
It is him, he comes, he comes here!
“Chanson a boire” from Ravel's, Don Quichotte
[Don Quichotte]
A pox on the bastard, illustrious Lady,
Who to discredit me in your sweet eyes,
Says that love and old wine
Are saddening my heart and soul!
I drink
To joy!
Joy is the only goal
To which I go straight... when I'm... drunk!
A pox on the jealous wretch, O dusky mistress,
Who whines and weeps and vows
Always to be this lily-livered lover
Who dilutes his drunkenness!
I drink
To joy!
Joy is the only goal
To which I go straight... when I'm... drunk!
“Ah! Leve-toi, soleil” Gounod, Roméo et Juliette
[Romeo]
Ah! get up, sun! make the stars pale
Who, in the azure without veils,
Shine in the firmament.
Ah! get up! seem! seem!
Pure and charming star!
She's dreaming! she undoes
A hair curl
Who is caressing his cheek!
Love! Love! give him my wishes!
She speaks! That she is beautiful!
Ah! I did not hear anything!
But her eyes speak for her,
And my heart answered
FIFTH COURSE: ITALY
Duet “O soave fanciulla” from Puccini's La Boheme
[Rodolfo]
Oh! lovely girl! Oh, sweet face
bathed in the soft moonlight.
I see in you the dream
I'd dream forever!
[Mimì]
(Ah! Love, you rule alone!...)
[Rodolfo]
Already I taste in spirit
The heights of tenderness!
[Mimì]
(You rule alone, O Love!)
[Rodolfo]
Already I taste in spirit
the heights of tenderness!
Love trembles in our kiss!
[Mimì]
(How sweet his praises
enter my heart ...
Love, you alone rule!)
Rodolfo kisses her.
No, please!
[Rodolfo]
You're mine!
[Mimì]
Your friends are waiting.
[Rodolfo]
You send me away already?
[Mimì]
I daren't say what I'd like ...
[Rodolfo]
Tell me.
[Mimì]
If I came with you?
[Rodolfo]
What? Mimi!
It would be so fine to stay here.
Outside it's cold.
[Mimì]
I'd be near you!
[Rodolfo]
And when we come back?
[Mimì]
Who knows?
[Rodolfo]
Give me your arm, my dear ...
[Mimì]
Your servant, sir ...
[Rodolfo]
Tell me you love me!
[Mimì]
I love you.
[Rodolfo and ]
as they go out
Beloved! My love! My love!
Trio “Soave il vento” from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte
May the wind be gentle,
and the waves be calm,
and may every element
benignly answer
to our wishes.
Sara Steele, is a pianist
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