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1. |
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Pourquoi me réveiller,
ô souffle du printemps?
Pourquoi me réveiller?
Sur mon front je sens tes caresses,
et pourtant bien proche est le temps
des orages et des tristesses!
Pourquoi me réveiller,
ô souffle du printemps?
Demain dans le vallon
viendra le voyageur
se souvenant de ma gloire première.
Et ses yeux vainement
chercheront ma splendeur.
Ils ne trouveront plus que deuil
et que misère! Hélas!
Pourquoi me réveiller,
ô souffle du printemps?
English Translation:
Why do you awaken me?
o breath of Spring?
Why do you awaken me?
On my forehead I feel your caresses,
and yet very near is the time
of storms and sorrows!
Why do you awaken me,
o breath of Spring?
Tomorrow, into the valley
will come the traveller
remembering my early glory
And his eyes in vain
will look for my splendor.
They will find no more than grief
and misery. Alas!
Why do you awaken me,
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2. |
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Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön,
Wie noch kein Auge je geseh'n!
Ich fühl' es, wie dies Götterbild
Mein Herz mit neuer Regung füllt.
Diess Etwas kann ich zwar nicht nennen!
Doch fühl' ichs hier wie Feuer brennen.
Soll die Empfindung Liebe seyn?
Ja, ja! die Liebe ist's allein. -
O wenn ich sie nur finden könnte!
O wenn sie doch schon vor mir stände!
Ich würde - würde - warm und rein -
Was würde ich! - Sie voll Entzücken
An diesen heissen Busen drücken,
Und ewig wäre sie dann mein.
This portrait is enchantingly beautiful,
such as no eye has ever yet seen.
I feel the way this divine image
fills my heart with new emotion.
Though I cannot name what this is,
yet I feel it burning here like fire.
Might this sensation be love?
Yes, yes! It can only be love!
Oh, if only I could find her!
Oh, if she but stood before me now!
I should ... should ... warmly and virtuously ...
What should I do? ... Rapturously I should
press her to this ardent breast,
and then she would be mine for ever.
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3. |
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Una furtiva lagrima
negli occhi suoi spuntò:
Quelle festose giovani
invidiar sembrò.
Che più cercando io vo?
Che più cercando io vo?
M'ama! Sì, m'ama,
lo vedo, lo vedo.
Un solo istante i palpiti
del suo bel cor sentir!
I miei sospir confondere
per poco a' suoi sospir!
I palpiti, i palpiti sentir,
confondere i miei co' suoi sospir.
Cielo, si può morir;
di più non chiedo, non chiedo.
Ah, cielo! Si può! Si può morir!
Di più non chiedo, non chiedo.
Si può morir! Si può morir d'amor.
Literal translation
A furtive tear
in her eyes appeared:
Those festive young girls
she seemed to envy.
What more need I look for?
What more need I look for?
She loves me! Yes, she loves me,
I see it, I see it.
For a single instant the beats
of her beautiful heart to hear!
My sighs to blend
for a while with her sighs!
Her heartbeats, her heartbeats to hear,
my sighs with hers to merge.
Heavens! One could die!
More I cannot ask, I cannot ask.
Oh, heavens! One could, one could die!
More I cannot ask, I cannot ask.
One could die! One could die of love!
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4. |
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Recitative:
There's no pleasure in life when she's away!
It's three months now since Violetta
Gave up for me her easy, luxurious life
Of love, affairs and expensive parties ...
There she was used to the homage of all
Who were enslaved by her beauty,
But she seems happy here in this
Charming place,
Where she forgets everything for me.
With her beside me, I feel myself reborn,
Revived by the breath of love,
Forgetting the past in present delights.
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5. |
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De' miei bollenti spiriti
Il giovanile ardore
Ella temprò col placido
Sorriso dell'amore! dell'amore
Dal dì che disse: vivere
Io voglio a te fedel
Dell'universo immemore
Io vivo io vivo, quasi in ciel
Dal dì che disse: vivere
Io voglio a te fedel
Dell'universo immemore
Io vivo io vivo, quasi
Io vivo quasi in ciel
Io vivo in ciel
Dell'universo immemore
Io vivo quasi in ciel
Io vivo io vivo quasi in ciel
Io vivo quasi in ciel
English translation:
Aria:
My passionate spirit
And the fire of youth
She tempers with the
Gentle smile of love.
Since the day when she told me
"I want to live, faithful to you alone!"
I have forgotten the world
And lived like one in heaven …
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6. |
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L'amour! L'amour!
Oui, son ardeur a troublé tout mon être!
La fenêtre de Juliette s'éclaire.
Mais quelle soudaine clarté
Resplendit à cette fenêtre!
C'est là que dans la nuit rayonne sa beauté!
English translation:
Love! Love!
Yes, his ardor has troubled my whole being!
Juliette's window lights up.
But what sudden clarity
Resplendit at this window!
This is where in the night radiates its beauty!
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7. |
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Ah! lève-toi, soleil! fais pâlir les étoiles,
Qui, dans l'azur sans voiles,
Brillent aux firmament.
Ah! lève-toi! parais! parais!
Astre pur et charmant!
Elle rêve! elle dénoue
Une boucle de cheveux
Qui vient caresse sa joue!
Amour! Amour! porte-lui mes vœux!
Elle parle! Qu'elle est belle!
Ah! je n'ai rien entendu!
Mais ses yeux parlent pour elle,
Et mon cœur a répondu!
Ah! lève-toi, soleil!
English translation:
Ah! arise, 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!
Ah! arise, sun...
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8. |
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Che gelida manina,
se la lasci riscaldar.
Cercar che giova?
Al buio non si trova.
Ma per fortuna
é una notte di luna,
e qui la luna
labbiamo vicina.
Aspetti, signorina,
le dirò con due parole
chi son, e che faccio,
come vivo. Vuole?
Chi son? Sono un poeta.
Che cosa faccio? Scrivo.
E come vivo? Vivo.
In povertà mia lieta
scialo da gran signore
rime ed inni damore.
Per sogni e per chimere
e per castelli in aria,
lanima ho milionaria.
Talor dal mio forziere
ruban tutti i gioelli
due ladri, gli occhi belli.
Ventrar con voi pur ora,
ed i miei sogni usati
e i bei sogni miei,
tosto si dileguar!
Ma il furto non maccora,
poiché, poiché vha preso stanza
la speranza!
Or che mi conoscete,
parlate voi, deh! Parlate. Chi siete?
Vi piaccia dir!
English translation:
What a frozen little hand,
let me warm it for you.
What's the use of looking?
We won't find it in the dark.
But luckily
it's a moonlit night,
and the moon
is near us here.
Wait, mademoiselle,
I will tell you in two words,
who I am, what I do,
and how I live. May I?
Who am I? I am a poet.
What do I do? I write.
And how do I live? I live.
In my carefree poverty
I squander rhymes
and love songs like a lord.
When it comes to dreams and visions
and castles in the air,
I've the soul of a millionaire.
From time to time two thieves
steal all the jewels
out of my safe, two pretty eyes.
They came in with you just now,
and my customary dreams
my lovely dreams,
melted at once into thin air!
Bu the theft doesn't anger me,
for their place has been
taken by hope!
Now that you know all about me,
you tell me who you are.
Please do!
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After performing for nearly two decades, I was often asked, "do you have a record available?" I often referred fans to my website or YouTube where they could find highlights from operatic performances. The pandemic gave me the time to reflect and curate some of my favorite arias. I wanted to give the world a sneak peak into the pieces that have helped shape and inspire my journey, as an artist. As a budding musician, I remember listening to the iconic opera singers and thinking, 'this is how I want to connect to humanity!" This has been a labor of love brought to fruition through years of performances. I hope you enjoy.
released October 31, 2023
Executive Produced by Orson Van Gay II
Piano Accompaniment: Lenny Hayes
Recorded and Mixed : Josh Margolis - Sonic Fuel Studios
Photography: Andy Wong
Album Cover: Orson Van Gay II
Mastered by: Josh Margolis
