Giuseppe Verdi
“Anvil Chorus” from Il trovatore
Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie
de’ cieli sveste l’immensa vôlta:
sembra una vedova che alfin si toglie
i bruni panni ond’era involta.
See how the clouds melt away
from the face of the sky when the sun shines, its brightness beaming;
just as a widow, discarding her black robes,
shows all her beauty in brilliance gleaming.
All’opra, all’opra!
Dagli. Martella.
So, to work now!
Lift up your hammers!
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella,
chi? chi i giorni abbella?
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?
La zingarella!
Who turns the Gypsy’s day from gloom to brightest sunshine?
Who turns the Gypsy’s day from gloom to brightest sunshine?
Who? Who from gloom to brightest sunshine?
His lovely Gypsy maid!
Versami un tratto; lena e coraggio
il corpo e l’anima traggon dal bere.
Oh guarda, guarda… del sole un raggio
brilla più vivido nel tuo bicchiere!
Fill up the goblets! New strength and courage
flow from lusty wine to soul and body.
See how the rays of the sun play and sparkle
and give to our wine gay new splendor.
All’opra, all’opra.
So, to work now!
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella,
chi? chi i giorni abbella?
La zingarella!
Who turns the Gypsy’s day from gloom to brightest sunshine?
Who turns the Gypsy’s day from gloom to brightest sunshine?
Who? Who from gloom to brightest sunshine?
His lovely Gypsy maid!
Giuseppe Verdi
“Povero Rigoletto” from Rigoletto
MARULLO
Povero Rigoletto!
Poor Rigoletto!
RIGOLETTO
La ra, la ra, la la…
CHORUS
Ei vien… silenzio!
Here he comes!… Be silent!
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS
Oh, buon giorno, Rigoletto.
Good morning, Rigoletto.
RIGOLETTO
(Han tutti fatto il colpo!)
(They were all in on it!)
CEPRANO
Ch’hai di nuovo, buffon?
What news, jester?
RIGOLETTO
Ch’hai di nuovo, buffon?
Che dell’usato
Più noioso voi siete.
What news, jester?
Only that you are more of a bore than usual.
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS
Ha! ha! ha!
RIGOLETTO
La ra, la ra, la la…
spiando inquieto dovunque
(Ove l’avran nascosta? … )
La ra, la ra, la la…
restlessly searching everywhere
(Where can they have hidden her?…)
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS
(Guardate com’è inquieto!)
(See how upset he is!)
RIGOLETTO
La ra, la ra, la la…
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS
(Sì! Guardate com’è inquieto!)
(Yes! See how upset he is!)
RIGOLETTO
[a Marullo]
Son felice
Che nulla a voi nuocesse
L’aria di questa notte…
[to Marullo]
I am glad
that the cold air last night
did not harm you in the least…
MARULLO
Questa notte!
Last night!…
RIGOLETTO
Sì … Ah, fu il bel colpo!
Yes! … Ah! it was a fine trick!
MARULLO
S’ho dormito sempre!
But I was asleep all night!
RIGOLETTO
Ah, voi dormiste!… Avrò dunque sognato!
La ra, la ra, la la…
Ah, you were asleep! So I dreamed it!
La ra, la ra, la la …
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS
(Ve’, ve’ come tutto osserva!)
(See how he inspects everything!)
RIGOLETTO
[gettandolo]
(Non è il suo.)
Dorme il Duca tuttor?
[throwing down the handkerchief]
(It isn’t hers.)
Is the Duke still asleep?
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CHORUS
Si, dorme ancora.
Yes, he is still asleep.
PAGE
Al suo sposo parlar vuol la Duchessa.
The Duchess wishes to speak to the Duke.
CEPRANO
Dorme.
He’s asleep.
PAGE
Qui or or con voi non era?
Wasn’t he here with you just now?
BORSA
È a caccia.
He went hunting.
PAGE
Senza paggi!… senz’armi!
Without his escort! Unarmed!
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CORO
E non capisci
Che per ora vedere non può alcuno?
Don’t you understand
that he can’t see anyone right now?
RIGOLETTO
Ah! Ella è qui dunque! Ella è col Duca!
Ah, she’s there! She’s with the Duke!
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CORO
Chi?
Who?
RIGOLETTO
La giovin che stanotte
Al mio tetto rapiste.
Ma la saprò riprender!… Ella è là…
The girl you carried off
from my house last night.
But I shall get her back… She’s in there!
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CORO
Se l’amante perdesti, la ricerca
Altrove.
If you’ve mislaid your mistress, look for her elsewhere.
RIGOLETTO
lo vo’mia figlia!
I want my daughter!
BORSA, MARULLO, CEPRANO, CORO
La sua figlia!
His daughter!
RIGOLETTO
Sì, la mia figlia! d’una tal vittoria…
Che? adesso non ridete?
Ella è là… la vogl’io… la renderete.
Yes, my daughter! After such a sweet revenge…What? You’re not laughing?
She’s in there… Give her back to me!
Cortigiani, vil razza dannata,
Per qual prezzo vendeste il mio bene?
A voi nulla per l’oro sconviene,
Ma mia figlia è impagabil tesor.
Courtiers, vile, cursed race,
for what price did you sell my treasure?
There’s nothing you won’t do for money,
but my daughter is beyond any price.
La rendete! o, se pur disarmata,
Questa man per voi fora cruenta;
Nulla in terra più l’uomo paventa,
Se dei figli difende l’onor.
Quella porta, assassini, m’aprite!
Ah! voi tutti a me contro venite..
Tutti contro me!…
Give her back, or this hand, though unarmed, will prove a dread weapon.
A man will fear nothing on earth
when defending his children’s honour.
Assassins, open that door!
Ah! You’re all against me!
All against me!…
Ah! Ebben, piango Marullo… Signore,
Tu ch’hai l’alma gentil come il core,
Dimmi tu ove l’hanno nascosta?
È là… non è vero?… Tu taci… ahimè!…
Then I’ll weep. Marullo, my lord,
you whose soul is as gentle as the heart,
Tell me, where have they hidden her?
She’s there …isn’t she? You don’t answer.
Miei signori… perdono, pietate…
Al vegliardo la figlia ridate…
Ridonarla a voi nulla ora costa,
Tutto al mondo tal figlia è per me.
Signori, perdono, pietà …
Ridate a me la figlia,
Tutto al mondo tal figlia è per me.
Pietà, pietà, Signori, pietà.
Alas! My lords, forgive me, have pity!
Give an old man back his daughter!
To give her back can costs you nothing,
but to me my daughter is everything.
Lords, forgive me …
Give me my daughter back,
to me my daughter is everything.
Lords, forgive me.
Giacomo Puccini
Finale of Act I. from La bohème
RODOLFO’S ARIA
Che gelida manina!
Se la lasci riscaldar.
Cercar che giova? Al buio non si trova.
How cold your little hand is!
Let me warm it for you.
What’s the use of searching? We’ll never find it in the dark.
Ma per fortuna è una notte di luna,
e qui la luna l’abbiamo vicina.
Aspetti, signorina,
le dirò con due parole
chi son, che faccio e come vivo. Vuole?
But luckily there’s a moon,
and she’s our neighbour here.
Just wait, my dear young lady,
and I’ll tell you in a word
who and what I am. Shall I?
Chi son? Sono un poeta.
Che cosa faccio? Scrivo.
E come vivo? Vivo.
In povertà mia lieta
scialo da gran signore
rime ed inni d’amore.
Per sogni, per chimere
e per castelli in aria
l’anima ho milionaria.
Who am I? I’m a poet.
My business? Writing.
How do I live? I live.
In my happy poverty
I squander like a prince
my poems and songs of love.
In hopes and dreams
and castles in the air,
I’m a millionaire in spirit.
Talor dal mio forziere
ruban tutti i gioielli
due ladri: gli occhi belli.
But sometimes my strong box
is robbed of all its jewels
by two thieves: a pair of pretty eyes.
V’entrar con voi pur ora
ed i miei sogni usati
e i bei sogni miei
tosto son dileguati.
They came in now with you
and all my lovely dreams,
my dreams of the past,
were soon stolen away.
Ma il furto non m’accora,
poiché vi ha preso stanza
la dolce speranza!
But the theft doesn’t upset me,
since the empty place was filled
with sweet hope.
Or che mi conoscete,
parlate voi. Chi siete?
Via piaccia dir?
Now that you know me,
it’s your turn to speak.
Who are you? Will you tell me?
MIMI’S ARIA
Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì,
ma il mio nome è Lucia.
La storia mia è breve.
A tela o a seta
ricamo in casa e fuori…
Yes. They call me Mimi,
but my real name’s Lucia.
My story is brief.
I embroider silk and satin
at home or outside.
Son tranquilla e lieta
ed è mio svago
far gigli e rose.
I’m tranquil and happy,
and my pastime
is making lilies and roses.
Mi piaccion quelle cose
che han sì dolce malìa,
che parlano d’amor, di primavere,
di sogni e di chimere,
quelle cose che han nome poesia…
Lei m’intende?
I love all things
that have gentle magic,
that talk of love, of spring,
that talk of dreams and fancies –
the things called poetry …
Do you understand me?
Mi chiamano Mimì,
il perché non so.
They call me Mimi –
I don’t know why.
Sola, mi fo
il pranzo da me stessa.
Non vado sempre a messa,
ma prego assai il Signore.
Vivo sola, soletta
là in una bianca cameretta:
guardo sui tetti e in cielo;
I live all by myself
and I eat all alone.
I don’t often go to church,
but I like to pray.
I stay all alone
In my tiny white room,
I look at the roofs and the sky.
Ma quando vien lo sgelo
il primo sole è mio
il primo bacio dell’aprile è mio!
But when spring comes
the sun’s first rays are mine.
The first kiss of spring is mine!
Germoglia in un vaso una rosa…
Foglia a foglia la spio!
Cosi gentile il profumo d’un fiore!
Ma i fior ch’io faccio, ahimè! non hanno odore.
A rose blossoms in my vase,
I breathe its perfume, petal by petal.
So sweet is the flower’s perfume.
The flowers I make, alas, have no scent.
Altro di me non le saprei narrare.
Sono la sua vicina
che la vien fuori d’ora a importunare.
What else can I say?
I’m your neighbour, disturbing you
at this impossible hour.
MIMÌ & RODOFLO’S DUET
RODOLFO
O soave fanciulla, o dolce viso
di mite circonfuso alba lunar
in te, vivo ravviso
il sogno ch’io vorrei sempre sognar!
Oh! lovely girl! Oh, sweet face
bathed in the soft moonlight.
I see in you
the dream I’d dream forever!
Fremon già nell’anima
le dolcezze estreme,
nel bacio freme amor!
Already I taste in spirit
The heights of tenderness!
Love trembles in our kiss!
MIMÌ
(Ah! tu sol comandi, amor!…
Oh! come dolci scendono
le sue lusinghe al core…
tu sol comandi, amore!…)
(You rule alone, O Love!
How sweet his praises
enter my heart …
Love, you alone rule!)
No, per pietà!
No, please!
RODOLFO
Sei mia!
You’re mine!
MIMÌ
V’aspettan gli amici…
Your friends are waiting…
RODOLFO
Già mi mandi via?
You send me away already?
MIMÌ
Vorrei dir… ma non oso…
I daren’t say what I’d like…
RODOLFO
Di.
Tell me.
MIMÌ
Se venissi con voi?
What if I came with you?
RODOLFO
Che?… Mimì?
Sarebbe così dolce restar qui.
C’è freddo fuori.
What? Mimi!
It would be so fine to stay here.
Outside it’s cold.
MIMÌ
Vi starò vicina!…
I would be near you!
RODOLFO
E al ritorno?
And when we come back?
MIMÌ
Curioso!
Who knows?
RODOLFO
Dammi il braccio, mia piccina.
Give me your arm, my dear…
MIMÌ
Obbedisco, signor!
I obey, my lord…
RODOLFO
Che m’ami di’…
Tell me you love me!
MIMÌ
Io t’amo!
I love you.
RODOLFO & MIMÌ
Amore! Amor!
Beloved! My love! My love!
Giuseppe Verdi
“Va pensiero, sull’ali dorate” (Chorus of the Hebrews) from Nabucco
Va’, pensiero, sull’ali dorate;
Va, ti posa sui clivi, sui colli,
ove olezzano tepide e molli
l’aure dolci del suolo natal!
Go, thoughts, on golden wings;
Go, settle upon the slopes and hills,
where warm and soft and fragrant are
the breezes of our sweet native land!
Del Giordano le rive saluta,
di Sionne le torri atterrate…
Oh mia Patria sì bella e perduta!
O membranza sì cara e fatal!
Greet the banks of the Jordan,
the towers of Zion …
Oh my country so beautiful and lost!
Or so dear yet unhappy!
Arpa d’or dei fatidici vati,
perché muta dal salice pendi?
Le memorie nel petto raccendi,
ci favella del tempo che fu!
Or harp of the prophetic seers,
why do you hang silent from the willows?
Rekindle the memories within our hearts,
tell us about the time that have gone by
O simile di Solima ai fati,
traggi un suono di crudo lamento;
o t’ispiri il Signore un concento
che ne infonda al patire virtù!
Or similar to the fate of Solomon,
give a sound of lament;
or let the Lord inspire a concert
That may give to endure our suffering.
Giuseppe Verdi
Act II., Scene 2 from La traviata
FLORA
There’ll be maskers
To liven up the evening;
The young vicomte at their head.
And I’ve invited Violetta and Alfredo …
MARQUIS
Hadn’t you heard that
Violetta and Germont have parted?
DOCTOR AND FLORA
Is it true?
MARQUIS
She’ll coming with the baron.
DOCTOR
But I saw them only yesterday!
They seemed happy enough.
FLORA
Hush! Do you hear?
ALL
Our friends are coming.
CHORUS OF THE GYPSY GIRLS
GYPSY GIRLS
We are gypsies,
Come from a distant land;
We can read the future
In anybody’s hand.
We’re in touch with the stars;
Nothing is hidden from us,
All the happenings of the future
We can reveal to you.
A GROUP OF GYPSIES
Let’s see;
looking at Flora’s hand
You, Madame, Have several rivals.
You, Marquis,
Are no model of faithfulness.
FLORA
Are you at your games again?
Believe me, I shall make you pay!
MARQUIS
What the deuce do you mean?
It’s an utter falsehood!
FLORA
The fox may change his skin,
But he doesn’t forget his tricks.
My dear Marquis, you be careful,
Or you may be sorry for it.
ALL
Come along, let’s draw a veil
Over what is past and gone;
What is done can’t be undone,
Let us welcome what’s to come.
CHORUS OF THE BULLFIGHTERS
BULLFIGHTERS
We’re matadors from Madrid,
The heroes of the bull ring,
We’ve come to enjoy the fun
That Paris makes over the fatted ox;
There’s a tale we can tell, if you’ll listen,
And would like to know how we can love!
CHORUS OF LADIES
Yes, yes, you splendid fellows, tell us!
We are eager to hear you!
BULLFIGHTERS
Then listen!
There’s a matador of Biscay,
The bold and handsome Piquillo;
Strong of arm and proud of aspect,
He’s the lord of the arena.
With an Andalusian maiden
He fell violently in love
But the saucy little beauty
Challenged her admiring swain:
“Let me see you bring to earth
Five bulls in a single day,
And if you return in triumph,
You shall have my heart and hand.”
“I accept!” said the bullfighter
And he hurried to the fight;
All five bulls the conquering hero
Stretched lifeless upon the sand.
CHORUS OF LADIES
Bravo, bravo, brave bullfighter,
You have shown yourself a hero,
And have proved to the maiden
The kind of love yours is.
BULLFIGHTERS
Midst the cheering he went back
To the girl of his heart,
And eagerly embraced his prize
In the strong arms of love.
CHORUS OF LADIES
With feats like this, bullfighters
Know how to win the fight!
BULLFIGHTERS
But here our hearts are gentler,
We make do with fun and games!
ALL
Yes, lively friends, first let us try
The temper of fickle fortune;
Let us open the lists
To the bold gamester.
ALL
Alfredo! You!
ALFREDO
Yes, my friends.
FLORA
Where’s Violetta?
ALFREDO
I don’t know.
ALL
How unimpassioned! Bravo!
Now, let’s have a game!
FLORA
Here’s the one we’ve been waiting for.
VIOLETTA
I couldn’t refuse such a lovely invitation.
FLORA
I’m grateful to you too, Baron,
For consenting to come.
BARON
Alfredo is here! Do you see?
VIOLETTA
Heavens! So he is!
Yes, I see him.
BARON
Not a word
From you to Alfredo,
Not a word!
VIOLETTA
Ah, why did I come?
It was rash of me!
Heaven, Have mercy on me!
FLORA
Sit down with me
And tell me about this new turn of events.
ALFREDO
Four!
GASTON
You’ve won again.
ALFREDO
Unlucky in love,
Lucky at cards …
ALL
He’s winning all the time!
ALFREDO
Oh, I shall win tonight
And return happily
To the country
To spend my winnings.
FLORA
Alone?
ALFREDO
Oh no, with her who was with me there,
Until she ran away from me.
VIOLETTA
Dear God!
GASTON
Spare her feelings.
BARON
Monsieur!
VIOLETTA
Remain calm, or I leave you.
ALFREDO
Did you speak to me, Baron?
BARON
You’re so favoured by fortune
That I’m tempted to try my luck …
ALFREDO
Really? I’ll take you on.
VIOLETTA
Ah! I feel like death!
Great heaven,
Have pity on me!
BARON
A hundred louis on the right …
ALFREDO
And a hundred on the left …
GASTON
An ace … a knave …
You win!
BARON
Will you double?
ALFREDO
Double it is!
GASTON
A four … a seven …
ALL
Again!
ALFREDO
Then I’m the winner.
ALL
Bravo! Alfredo has all the luck.
FLORA
The Baron’s going to pay for that stay in
the country … I can see that!
ALFREDO
Shall we go on?
CHORUS
Supper is served.
FLORA
Let’s go!
ALL
Let’s go.
VIOLETTA
What’s going to happen? I feel like death!
Great heaven,
Have pity on me!
ALFREDO
If you’d like to go on?
BARON
We can’t now;
I’ll have my revenge later.
ALFREDO
At any game you like.
BARON
Let’s follow our friends … later …
ALFREDO
I’ll be at your service.
Let’s go.
BARON
Let’s go.
VIOLETTA
I’ve asked him to follow me.
Will he come? Will he heed me?
I think he’ll come, for his terrible hatred
Moves him more than my words …
ALFREDO
You called me? What do you want?
VIOLETTA
You must go,
You’re in danger!
ALFREDO
Ah, I see, but that’s enough,
So you think I’m a coward?
VIOLETTA
No, never!
ALFREDO
What are you afraid of?
VIOLETTA
The Baron frightens me.
ALFREDO
It’s a question of life and death between us.
If I kill him,
You’ll lose lover and protector
At a single blow.
Doesn’t such a fate terrify you?
VIOLETTA
But if he should be the killer?
That’s the only thought
That puts the fear of death into me,
ALFREDO
My death? What do you care about that?
VIOLETTA
Please go, go at once!
ALFREDO
I’ll go if you will swear
That wherever I go,
You’ll follow me …
VIOLETTA
No, never!
ALFREDO
No, never!
VIOLETTA
Go, you are wicked!
Forget a name that’s without honour!
Go, leave me this minute.
I’ve made a solemn vow
To fly from you.
ALFREDO
Who to? Tell me, who could make you?
VIOLETTA
One who had every right.
ALFREDO
Was it Baron Douphol?
VIOLETTA
Yes!
ALFREDO
Then you love him?
VIOLETTA
Yes … I love him …
ALFREDO
Come here, all of you!
ALL
You called us? What do you want?
ALFREDO
You know this lady?
ALL
You mean Violetta?
ALFREDO
But you don’t know what she’s done.
VIOLETTA
Oh, don’t!
ALL
No.
ALFREDO
For me this woman lost all she possessed.
I was blind,
A wretched coward,
I accepted it all.
But it’s time now for me
To clear myself from debt.
I call you all to witness here
That I’ve paid her back!
ALL
What you have done is shameful!
So to strike down a tender heart!
You have insulted a woman!
Get out of here!
We’ve no use for you!
We’ve no use for such as you!
Go!
GERMONT
A man who offends a woman, even in anger, Merits nothing but scorn.
Where is my son?
I see him no more
In you, Alfredo,
No more in you.
ALFREDO
What have I done? Yes, I despise myself!
Jealous madness, love deceived,
Ravaged my soul, destroyed my reason.
How can I ever gain her pardon?
I would have left her, but I couldn’t;
I came here to vent my anger,
But now I’ve done so, wretch that I am,
I feel nothing but a deep remorse!
CHORUS
Yes, you have suffered,
But take heart!
Each one of us has shared your pain;
Friends are about you to dry the tears
You have shed.
GERMONT
Alone I know the true devotion
This poor girl hides within her breast;
I know her faithful heart
That’s vowed so cruelly to silence.
BARON
Your deadly insult to this lady
Offends us all, but such an outrage
Shall not go unavenged!
I shall find a way to humble your pride!
ALFREDO
Alas, what have I done?
What have I done?
How can I ever
Gain her pardon?
VIOLETTA
Alfredo, how should you understand
All the love that’s in my heart?
How should you know that I have proved it,
Even at the price of your contempt?
But the time will come when you will know,
When you’ll admit how much I loved you.
God save you then from all remorse!
Even after death I shall still love you.
