Summer Spectacular 

Song List & Translations

Click a song title or scroll down to view translations

Va, pensiero -- Nabucco -- G. Verdi

Fly, my thoughts, on wings of gold;

go settle upon the slopes and the hills,

where, soft and mild, the sweet airs

of my native land smell fragrant!

Greet the banks of the Jordan

and Zion's toppled towers.

O my homeland, so lovely and lost!

O memories so dear and yet so deadly!

Golden harp of the prophets of old,

why do you now hang silent upon the willow?

Rekindle the memories in our hearts,

and speak of times gone by!

Mindful of the fate of Solomon's temple,

Cry out with raw lamentation,

or else may the Lord strengthen you

to bear these sufferings![1]

Treulich geführt (Wedding March) -- Lohengrin -- R. Wagner

Faithfully guided, draw near

to where the blessing of love shall preserve you!

Triumphant courage, the reward of love,

joins you in faith as the happiest of couples!

Champion of virtue, proceed!

Jewel of youth, proceed!

Flee now the splendour of the wedding feast,

may the delights of the heart be yours!

This sweet-smelling room, decked for love,

now takes you in, away from the splendour.

Faithfully guided, draw now near

to where the blessing of love shall preserve you!

Triumphant courage, love so pure,

joins you in faith as the happiest of couples! 

As God hath blessedly consecrated you,

We consecrate you to joy;

Attended by love's bliss,

Think long upon the present hour![3]

Vissi d’arte -- Tosca -- G. Puccini

I lived for art, I lived for love,

I never harmed a living soul!

With a discreet hand

I relieved all misfortunes I encountered.

Always with sincere faith

my prayer

rose to the holy tabernacles.

Always with sincere faith

I decorated the altars with flowers.

In this hour of grief,

why, why, Lord,

why do you reward me thus?

I donated jewels to the Madonna’s mantle,

and offered songs to the stars and to heaven,

which thus did shine with more beauty.

In this hour of grief,

why, why, Lord,

ah, why do you reward me thus? [4]

Com’è gentil -- Don Pasquale -- G. Donizetti

How lovely is the night in mid april. 

The sky is blue, the moon is clear. 

All is languor, peace mystery, love. 

Beloved why still don’t you come to me?

The breezes are shaping words of love!

Hear the murmur of the river sighing…

Then, when I am dead, you will weep,

But you won’t be able to call me back to life!

Your faithful swain is destroyed with desire, cruel Nina, do you wish to see me die?

Coro a Bocca Chiusa "Humming Chorus" -- Madama Butterfly -- G. Puccini

O soave fanciulla -- La Boheme -- G. Puccini

Rodolfo:

Oh lovely girl, oh sweet face

bathed in the soft moonlight,

I see you in a dream

I'd dream forever!

Both

M: Ah! Love, you rule alone!

R: Already the soul trembles

extreme kindness

Mimì: very moved Ah! Love, you rule alone!

Both Rodolfo putting his arms around her

R: The soul trembles

the heights of tenderness

trembling are the heights of tenderness

M: almost surrendering

How sweet his flatteries

enter my heart...

Together

M: You rule alone, oh love!

R: Love trembles at our kiss!

kisses her

Mimì: freeing herself No, I beg you!

Rodolfo: You're mine now!

Mimì: Your friends are still waiting...

Rodolfo: So soon must I leave you?

Mimì: hesitant I dare not... say what I'd like.

Rodolfo: with kindness Tell me?

Mimì: with graceful cleverness

If I came with you?

Rodolfo: surprised What? Mimì!

insinuating

It would be so fine to stay here.

It's freezing outside.

Mimì: with great abandon

I'd be right beside you!

Rodolfo: What about later?

Mimì: mischievous Who knows?

Rodolfo: helping lovingly Mimì to put on her shawl

Take my arm, my dear young lady...

Mimì: gives Rodolfo her arm

I obey, my dear sir!

they exit arm in arm

Rodolfo: Do you love me, say...

Mimì: with abandon I love you..

Together Love! Love! Love!

Habanera -- Carmen -- G. Bizet

Love is a rebellious bird

that no one can tame,

and it's quite useless to call him

if it suits him refuse.

Nothing moves him, neither threat nor plea,

one man speaks freely, the other keeps mum;

and it's the other one I prefer:

he's said nothing, but I like him.

Love!

Love is a gypsy child,

he has never heard of law.

If you don't love me, I love you;

if I love you, look out for yourself! etc.

The bird you thought to catch unawares

beats its wings and away it flew -

love's far away, and you can wait for it:

you wait for it no longer - and there it is.

All around you, quickly, quickly,

it comes, it goes, then it returns -

you think you can hold it, it evades you,

you think to evade it, it holds you fast.

Love! 

Te Deum -- Tosca -- G. Puccini

SCARPIA

(to Spoletta, who emerges from behind the column)

Three men and a carriage...Quick, follow

wherever she goes! And take care!

SPOLETTA

Yes, Sir. And where do we meet?

SCARPIA

Farnese Palace!

(Spoletta hurries out with three policemen.)

Go, Tosca!

Now Scarpia digs a nest within your heart!

Go, Tosca! Scarpia now sets loose

the soaring falcon of your jealousy!

How great a promise in your quick suspicions!

Now Scarpia digs a nest within your heart!

Go, Tosca!

(Scarpia kneels and prays as the cardinal passes.)

CHORUS

Adjutorum nostrum in nomine Domini

qui fecit coelum et terram.

Sit nomen Domini benedictum

et hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.

SCARPIA

My will takes aim now at a double target,

nor is the rebel's head the bigger prize...

Ah, to see the flame of those imperious eyes

grow faint and languid with passion...

For him, the rope,

and for her, my arms...

CHORUS

Te Deum laudamus:

Te Dominum confitemur!

(The sacred chant from the back of the church

startles Scarpia, as though awakening him from a

dream. He collects himself, makes the Sign of the

Cross.)

SCARPIA

Tosca, you make me forget God!

(He kneels and prays devoutly.)

CHORUS, SCARPIA

Te aeternum

Patrem omnis terra veneratur!

Intermission

Chi mi frena in tal momento -- Lucia di Lammermoor -- G. Donizetti

EDGARDO

aside

Who curbs me at such a moment,

who stemmed the flood of my anger?

Her grief, her terror, are the proof,

are the proof of her remorse!

But like a withered rose,

she hovers between death and life!

I surrender, I am touched,

I love you, heartless girl, I love you still!

ENRICO

aside

Who checks my fury

and the hand which darted to my sword?

I heard within me a plea

for the unhappy girl!

She is my kin! I have betrayed her!

She hovers between death and life!

Ah, I cannot quell

the remorse in my soul!

LUCIA

aside

I hoped that terror

would cut short my life,

but death will not help me …

I must live on in anguish!

The veil fell from my eyes.

I was betrayed by earth and Heaven!

I would weep, but I cannot,

even tears have forsaken me.

RAIMONDO, ALISA

aside

What a terrible moment!

I cannot find words to say!

A dense cloud of terror

seems to dim the sun's rays!

Like a withered rose,

she hovers between death and life,

whoever does not feel for her,

has the heart of a tiger.

Come scoglio -- Cosi fan tutte -- W.A. Mozart

As a rock, remaining motionless

against the winds and tempest,

yet like this, is this soul strong

in faith and in love.

With us is born that torch

which pleases and consoles us,

and death alone will be able

to change the feeling of (our) the heart.

Respect, ungrateful souls

this paragon of constancy,

And may a barbarous hope

not make you bold again! Translation by: Marc Verzatt

Hansel und Gretel Duet -- Hansel und Gretel -- E. Humperdinck

When at night I go to sleep,

Fourteen angels watch do keep,

Two my head are guarding,

Two my feet are guiding;

Two upon my right hand,

Two upon my left hand.

Two who warmly cover

Two who o’er me hover,

Two to whom ’tis given

To guide my steps to heaven.[2]

Bella figlia dell'amore -- Rigoletto -- G. Verdi

DUKE: One day, if I remember well,

oh beautiful, I met you ...

I liked you to ask

and understood that you are here.

Now know that since then

only you this soul adores.

GILDA (to herself): Unfair!

MADDALENA: Ah! Ah! ... and twenty others below,

perhaps you forget them now?

He looks like the young gentleman

like a true libertine.

DUKE: Yes, I am a monster.

GILDA: Ah, my father!

MADDALENA: Leave me stunned!

DUKE: Ah, what a din!

MADDALENA: Be wise!

DUKE: And you be docile,

don't make me so much fuss.

All wisdom closed

in joy and love.

(He takes her hand.)

The beautiful white hand!

MADDALENA: Are you kidding, sir.

DUKE: No, no.

MADDALENA: I'm ugly.

DUKE: Hug me.

GILDA (to herself): Unfair!

MADDALENA: Drunkard!

DUKE: Of burning love.

MADDALENA: Mr. Indifferent,

do you like to make fun?

DUKE: No, no, I want to marry you ...

MADDALENA: I want the word.

DUKE (ironic): Lovable daughter!

RIGOLETTO (to Gilda, who has observed and understood everything):

And isn't that enough for you yet?

GILDA: Unfair traitor!

DUKE: Beautiful daughter of Love,

I am a slave to your charms;

with only one saying you can

console my pains.

Come and feel

the frequent palpitation of my heart.

MADDALENA: Ah! ah! I laugh heartily,

that these bays are cheap,

how much is your game worth,

you believe me, I know how to appreciate.

I am accustomed, handsome gentleman,

to such a joke,

my handsome mister!

GILDA: Ah, so I heard

the infamous talk about love!

Unhappy betrayed heart,

do not burst out of anguish.

RIGOLETTO: Shut up, crying is not worth it,

He was lying, you are sure.

Shut up, and my cure will be

the revenge of hurrying.

Ready to go, it will be fatal

I know how to strike him! 5

Nessun Dorma -- Turandot -- G. Puccini

None shall sleep,

None shall sleep!

Even you, oh Princess,

In your cold room,

Watch the stars,

That tremble with love

And with hope.

But my secret is hidden within me,

My name no one shall know,

No... no...

On your mouth, I will tell it,

When the light shines.

And my kiss will dissolve

the silence that makes you mine!

(No one will know his name

and we must, alas, die.)

Vanish, o night!

Set, stars! Set, stars!

At dawn, I will win!

I will win!

I will win!

Die Strahen der Sonne vertreiben die Nacht -- Die Zauberflote -- W.A. Mozart

SARASTRO

The rays of the sun

chase night away;

the hypocrite’s surreptitious power

is utterly destroyed!

CHORUS

Hail to the initiates!

You have penetrated the darkness!

Thanks be to thee-, Osiris!

Thanks to thee, Isis!

Fortitude is victorious,

and, in reward,

crowns Beauty and Wisdom

with its eternal diadem!

Libiamo ne’ lieti calici -- La Traviata -- G. Verdi

ALFREDO

Let's drink from the joyous chalice

Where beauty flowers ...

Let the fleeting hour

To pleasure's intoxication yield.

Let's drink

To love's sweet tremors -

To those eyes

That pierce the heart.

Let's drink to love - to wine

That warms our kisses.

ALL

Ah! Let's drink to love ? to wine

That warms our kisses.

VIOLETTA

rising

With you I would share

My days of happiness;

Everything is folly in this world

That does not give us pleasure.

Let us enjoy life,

For the pleasures of love are swift and fleeting

As a flower that lives and dies

And can be enjoyed no more.

Let's take our pleasure!

While its ardent,

Brilliant summons lures us on.

ALL

Let's take our pleasure

Of wine and

Singing and mirth

Till the new day

Dawns on us in paradise.

VIOLETTA

to Alfredo

Life is just pleasure.

ALFREDO

to Violetta

But if one still waits for love ...

VIOLETTA

to Alfredo

I know nothing of that ? don't tell me …

ALFREDO

to Violetta

But there lies my fate.

ALL

Let's take our pleasure

Of wine and

Singing and mirth,

Till the new day

Dawns on this paradise of ours.

Once More Gondolieri -- The Gondoliers -- A. Sullivan

Translation Sources

1. https://www.metopera.org/globalassets/discover/education/educator-guides/nabucco/nabucco.16-17.guide.pdf

2. https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2017/11/engelbert-humperdinck-hansel-gretel-evening-prayer-fourteen-angels-terez-rose.html

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridal_Chorus

4. https://medicine-opera.com/2021/12/vissi-darte/

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_figlia_dell%27amore

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_soave_fanciulla

7. https://www.murashev.com/opera/Die_Zauberfl%C3%B6te_libretto_German_English 

8. https://www.murashev.com/opera/Tosca_libretto_English_Act_1

9. https://opera-guide.ch/highlights/show_highlight.php?id=86&oper_id=110&uilang=en

10. https://www.opera-arias.com/mozart/cosi-fan-tutte/come-scoglio-immoto-resta/

11. https://www.opera-arias.com/wagner/die-walkure/libretto/deutsch/ 

12. Nico Castel

https://www.murashev.com/opera/Carmen_libretto_English_Act_1 

https://www.opera-arias.com/verdi/la-traviata/libiamo-ne-lieti-calici-(brindisi)/