Non mi dir - Don Giovanni

Wolfgang A. Mozart

I cruel? Ah no, my dearest! It grieves me much to postpone a bliss we have for long desired...
But what would the world say? Do not tempt the fortitude of my tender heart, which already pleads your loving cause. Say not, my beloved, that I am cruel to you: you must know how much I loved you, and you know what I am true. Calm your torments, if you would not have me die of grief. One day, perhaps, Heaven again will smile on me.

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Condotto all'era in ceppi - Il trovatore

Giuseppe Verdi

She was led to her destiny in chains!  With the child in my arm, I followed her weeping. I tried, in vain, to reach her... In vain the wretched woman tried to stop and bless me! For, among terrible curses, prodding her with their weapons they chased her towards the stake, the cruel men! Then, with broken accents she exclaimed: "Revenge me!" That word eternally reverberates in this heart. I managed to kidnap the Count's child: I dragged him hither... the flames were ready.

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He was crying his heart out, my heart was torn, in shreds!... Then suddenly, to the sick soul, like in a dream, a vision of frightening phantoms rose! The guards and the torture!...My mother, deathly pale… barefoot, in disarray!...the cry, the well-known cry echoes.... "Revenge me! "I stretch my trembling hand-I hold the victim...I reach for it, push it into the fire... the delirium is over...the dreadful scene vanishes… only the flame burning, and its victim is no more! I then turn my eyes and I see just in front of me the son of the wicked Count... My son, my own son I had killed! I still feel my hair raising at the thought of it!

 

Celeste Aïda - Aïda

Giuseppe Verdi

If I were that warrior! If my dreams were to come true! A valiant army led by me… and victory… and the acclamations of all Memphis! And to return to you, my sweet Aida, crowned with laurels…
to tell you: for you I fought, for you I conquered!

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Heavenly Aida, form divine, mystical garland of light and flowers, of my thoughts you are the queen, you are the light of my life.  I would return to you your lovely sky, the gentle breezes of your native land; a royal crown on your brow I would set, build you a throne next to the sun.

 

Fu la sorte dell'armi - Aïda

Giuseppe Verdi

AMNERIS - The fortunes of war have gone against your people! Poor Aida!

Your heart’s grief I share with you. I am your friend. You shall have whatever you wish from me. You shall be happy.

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AIDA - Can I be happy, far from my homeland, knowing nothing of the fate of my father and my brothers?

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AMNERIS - I weep for you. But there are limits to earthly sorrow. Time will quiet the anguish of your heart – and, more than time, a powerful god – Love!

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AIDA  - Love, love! Tormenting joy, sweet rapture, cruel anxiety! In thy sorrow I find my life, in thy smile, I find heaven itself. 

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AMNERIS - Ah, her pallor, her confusion betray the secret fever of love! I fear to question her, for I share the anxiety of her heart!  What new anguish disturbs you, sweet Aida? Tell me your secret, trust in my friendship. Among those brave men who fought and conquered your homeland, was there perhaps one whom you loved?

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AIDA - What do you mean?

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AMNERIS - Not to all has fate been cruel, since our fearless leader has died on the battlefield –

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AIDA - What did you say? Oh! wretched!

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AMNERIS - Yes, Radamès was killed by your people...

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AIDA - Alas!

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AMNERIS - And can you weep?

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AIDA - I shall never cease my weeping!

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AMNERIS - The gods have avenged you!

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AIDA - The gods have always been against me.

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AMNERIS - Tremble! I have read your heart – you love him –

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AIDA - I!

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AMNERIS - Do not lie! One more word and I shall know. Look into my eyes, I deceived you –

Radamès is alive!

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AIDA - Alive! Oh, praised be the gods!

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AMNERIS - And you still hope to lie to me? Yes, you love him! But I too love him, do you hear?

I am your rival, I, daughter of the Pharaohs!

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AIDA - My rival! Then so be it, for I too am – Ah, what am I saying? Have pity on me; forgive me, ah! Let pity for my sorrow move you. It is true, I love him deeply. You are happy, you are powerful, in my life there is nothing but my love! 

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AMNERIS - Fear me now, you slave! Let your heart break; this love can mean your death. I am master of your fate, and my heart rages with hate and vengeance!

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AMNERIS - In the Triumph now being made ready, you shall take part with me. O slave! You, prostrate in the dust, I at the King’s side, on the throne!

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AIDA - Ah, have pity! What is left for me? My life is a desert. Live, reign – soon I shall appease your anger. This love which distresses you will die with me, in the tomb.

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AMNERIS - Come, follow me. You shall see if you are worthy to do battle with me

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AIDA – O gods, take pity on my suffering! There is no hope for my sorrow!

 

Winterstürme - Die Walküre

Richard Wagner

Winter storms gave way to the merry moon, Springtime gleams in mild light; on the breeze, gentle and lovely, Spring sways by doing wonders; through woods and meadows blows its breath, its eye laughs widely apart: it exhales lovely fragrances; delightful flowers refresh his its blood, sprouts arise from its strength. Winter and storm gave way to the strong fight: even the rigid door which defiantly and rigidly separated us gave way. Love tempted springtime: now it smiles overjoyed! The young couple welcomes each other with jubilation: Love and springtime are united!

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Printemps qui commence - Samson et Dalila

Camille Saint-Saëns

Spring commences and brings hope to loving hearts, with a breath it comes from the earth and erases unhappiness. Everything burns in our soul, and your sweet flame comes to dry our tears. You return to the earth, through a sweet mystery, the fruits and the flowers. In vain I am beautiful! My heart full of love, weeping for the unfaithful, awaits his return! Living in hope, my desolate heart keeps the memory of past happiness! At nightfall I will go, sad lover, to sit by the torrent, waiting for him while weeping! Chasing my sadness if he returns one day, to him my tenderness and the sweet intoxication, that a burning love keeps for his return!

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Marietta's Lied - Die Tote Stadt

Erich Korngold

Happiness, that has remained with me, move closer to me, my true love. In the grove evening is waning,

yet you are my light and day. Heart beats anxiously on heart, while hope is soaring heavenward.

How true, a mournful song. The song of the true love that has to die. I know this song.

I often heard it sung in happier days of yore. There is yet another stanza – do I remember it?

 

Though dismal sorrow is drawing nigh, move closer to me, my true love.

Bend your pale face to me - death will not part us. When the hour of death comes one day,

believe, that you will rise again.

Acerba voluttà! - Adriana Lecouvreur

Francesco Cilea

Bitter pleasure, sweet torture, slow agony, quick offence,  burning, freezing, trembling, impatience, fear,  are kindled in a loving breast by waiting! Every echo, every shadow in the night conspires against my impatient soul. Everything is suspended between doubt and desire…  Eternity is measured in moments...Will he come? Has he forgotten me?  Is he hurrying? Has he changed his mind? He’s here!… No, it is the voice of the river,  mingled with the sighing of the trees…

Wandering star of the East,  do not fade: smile on the universe,  and if he is not false, guide my love to me!

 

Mario, Mario, Mario! - Tosca

Giacomo Puccini

TOSCA -Mario! Mario! Mario!

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CAVARADOSSI - I am here...

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TOSCA - Why was it locked?

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CAVARADOSSI - That was the sacristan's wish.

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TOSCA - With whom were you talking?

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CAVARADOSSI - With you!

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TOSCA - You were whispering with someone else.

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CAVARADOSSI - Who?

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TOSCA - She! That woman! I heard her quick steps and her dress rustling.

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CAVARADOSSI = You're dreaming!

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TOSCA - Do you deny it?

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CAVARADOSSI - I deny it and I love you!

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TOSCA - Oh no! Before the gentle Madonna, no, Mario! First let me pray and offer these flowers. Now listen: tonight I am singing, but it will be brief. Wait for me at the stage entrance, and we two shall go alone together to your villa.

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CAVARADOSSI - Tonight?

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TOSCA - It is the time of the full moon, when the heart is drunk with the nightly fragrance

of the flowers. Are you not happy?

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CAVARADOSSI - So very happy!

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TOSCA - Say it again!

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CAVARADOSSI - So very happy!

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TOSCA - How faintly you say it! Do you not long for our little house that is waiting for us, hidden in the grove? Our refuge, sacred to us and unseen by the world, protected with love and mystery?

Oh, at your side to listen there to the voices of the night as they rise through the starlit,

shadowed silences: from the woods and from the thickets and the dry grass, from the depths

of shattered tombs scented with thyme, the night murmurs its thousand loves and false counsels

to soften and seduce the heart. Oh wide fields, blossom! And sea winds throb in the moon's radiance, ah, rain down desire, you vaulted stars! Tosca burns with a mad love!

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CAVARADOSSI - Ah! Sorceress, I am bound in your toils...

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TOSCA - Tosca's blood burns with a mad love!

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CAVARADOSSI - Sorceress, I will come!

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TOSCA - Oh, my love!

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CAVARADOSSI - But now you must let me work.

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TOSCA - You dismiss me?

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CAVARADOSSI - You know my work is pressing.

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TOSCA - I am going! And who is that blond woman there?

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CAVARADOSSI - Mary Magdalene. Do you like her?

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TOSCA - She is too beautiful!

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CAVARADOSSI - Ah, rare praise!

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TOSCA - You laugh? I have seen those sky-blue eyes before.

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CAVARADOSSI - There are so many in the world!

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TOSCA - Wait... wait... It is the Attavanti!

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CAVARADOSSI - Brava!

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TOSCA - Do you see her? She loves you! Do you love her?

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CAVARADOSSI - By pure chance...

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TOSCA - Those footsteps and whispers... Ah... She was here just now...

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CAVARADOSSI - Come here!

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TOSCA - The shameless flirt! And to me!

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CAVARADOSSI - By pure chance I saw her yesterday... she came here to pray...

and I, unnoticed, painted her.

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TOSCA - Swear!

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CAVARADOSSI - I swear!

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TOSCA - How intently she stares at me!

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CAVARADOSSI - Come away!

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TOSCA - She taunts and mocks me.

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CAVARADOSSI - What foolishness!

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TOSCA - Ah, those eyes...

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CAVARADOSSI - What eyes in the world can compare with your dark and glowing eyes? It is in them that my whole being fastens, eyes soft with love and rich with anger... Where in the whole world are eyes to compare with your black eyes?

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TOSCA - Oh, how well you know the art of capturing women's hearts! But let her eyes be dark…

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CAVARADOSSI - My jealous Tosca!

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TOSCA - Yes, I feel it, I torment you unceasingly.

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CAVARADOSSI - My jealous Tosca!

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TOSCA - I know you would forgive me if you knew my grief.

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CAVARADOSSI - You are my idol, Tosca. All things in you delight me: your storming anger and your pulsing love!

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TOSCA - I know you would forgive me if you knew my grief. Say again those consoling words... Say them again!

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CAVARADOSSI - My life, my troubled one, beloved. I shall always say: "I love you, Floria".

Set your uneasy heart at rest, I shall always say: "I love you".

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TOSCA - Good heavens! What a sin! You have undone my hair.

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CAVARADOSSI - Now you must leave me!

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TOSCA - You stay at your work until this evening. And will you promise that, blond locks

or black, by chance or otherwise, no woman shall come here to pray?

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CAVARADOSSI - I swear it, beloved. Go now!

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TOSCA - How you do hurry me along!

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CAVARADOSSI - Again?

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TOSCA - No, forgive me!

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CAVARADOSSI - Before the Madonna?

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TOSCA - She is so good! But let her eyes be dark…

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O soave fanciulla - La Bohème

Giacomo Puccini

RODOLFO - Oh! lovely girl! Oh, sweet face bathed in the soft moonlight. I see in you the dream I'd dream forever!

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MIMÌ - Ah! Love, you rule alone! How sweet his words enter my heart!

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RODOLFO - Already I taste the heights of tenderness! Love trembles in our kiss.

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MIMÌ - No, please!

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RODOLFO - You're mine!

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MIMÌ - Your friends are waiting.

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RODOLFO - You send me away already?

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MIMÌ - I dare say what I'd like ...

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RODOLFO - Tell me.

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MIMÌ - If I came with you?

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RODOLFO - What? Mimi! It would be better to stay here. Outside it's cold.

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MIMÌ - I'd be near you!

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RODOLFO - And when we come back?

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MIMI – Who knows?

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RODOLFO - Give me your arm, my dear ...

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MIMÌ - Your servant, sir ...

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RODOLFO - Tell me you love me!

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MIMÌ - I love you.

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RODOLFO and MIMÌ – Love! Love!

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