Lyrics and Translations

April 14, 2023

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“Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante”
Micaëla’s aria from Carmen, by Georges Bizet (1838-1875)

MICAËLA
C’est des contrebandiers le refuge ordinaire.
Il est ici; je le verra!
Et le devoir que m’imposa sa mere
Sans trembler je l’accomplirai.

Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante,
Je dis hélas que je réponds de moi,
Mais j'ai beau faire la vaillante,
Au fond du coeur, je meurs d'effroi
Seule, en ce lieu sauvage
Toute seule, j'ai peur,
Mais j'ai tort d'avoir peur,
Vous me donnerez du courage,
Vous me protégerez, Seigneur .

Je vais voir de près cette femme
Dont les artifices maudits
Ont fini par faire un infâme
De celui que j'aimais jadis;
Elle est dangereuse, elle est belle,
Mais je ne veux pas avoir peur,
Non, non je ne veux pas avoir peur!
Je parlerai haut devant elle,
Ah! Seigneur ... Vous me protégerez.

Protégez-moi! O Seigneur!
Donnez-moi du courage!
Protégez-moi! O Seigneur!
Protégez-moi! Seigneur!

MICAËLA
It’s the usual refuge of smugglers.
He is here; I will see him!
And the duty imposed on me by his mother
Without trembling I will accomplish it.

I say that nothing frightens me,
I say alas that I answer for myself,
But no matter how brave I am,
At the bottom of the heart, I'm dying of terror
Alone, in this wild place
Alone, I'm afraid,
But I'm wrong to be afraid,
You will give me courage,
You will protect me, Lord.

I'm going to see this woman up close
Including the accursed devices
Ended up making an infamy
Of the one I once loved;
She is dangerous, she is beautiful,
But I do not want to be afraid,
No, no, I do not want to be afraid!
I will speak loudly in front of her,
Ah! Lord ... you will protect me.

Protect me! O Lord!
Give me courage!
Protect me! O Lord!
Protect me! Lord!

“Cosa stai misurando carissimo Figaretto?... Duettino”
Duet of Figaro and Susanna from Le nozze di Figaro, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1771)

Recitativo

SUSANNA
Cosa stai misurando, caro il mio Figaretto?

FIGARO
Io guardo se quel letto che ci destina il Conte farà buona figura in questo loco.

SUSANNA
E in questa stanza?

FIGARO
Certo: a noi la cede generoso il padrone.

SUSANNA
Io per me te la dono.

FIGARO
E la ragione?

SUSANNA
La ragione l'ho qui.

FIGARO
Perché non puoi far che passi un po' qui?

SUSANNA
Perché non voglio. Sei tu mio servo o no?

FIGARO
Ma non capisco perché tanto ti spiace la più comoda stanza del palazzo.

SUSANNA
Perch'io son la Susanna, e tu sei pazzo.

FIGARO
Grazie; non tanti elogi! Guarda un poco se potriasi star meglio in altro loco.

Duettino

FIGARO
Se a caso madama la notte ti chiama,
din din; in due passi da quella puoi gir.
Vien poi l'occasione che vuolmi il padrone,
don, don; in tre salti lo vado a servir.

SUSANNA
Così se il mattino il caro Contino,
din din; e ti manda tre miglia lontan,
don don; a mia porta il diavol lo porta,
ed ecco in tre salti...

FIGARO
Susanna, pian, pian.

SUSANNA
Ascolta...

FIGARO
Fa presto...

SUSANNA
Se udir brami il resto, discaccia i sospetti che torto mi fan.

FIGARO
Udir bramo il resto, i dubbi, i sospetti gelare mi fan.

Recitative

SUSANNA
What are you measuring, my dear little Figaro?

FIGARO
I'm seeing if this bed that the Count has put aside for us will go well just here.

SUSANNA
In this room?

FIGARO
Certainly; his lordship’s generously giving it to us.

SUSANNA
I give it to you, for myself.

FIGARO
What's the matter?

SUSANNA
I've my reasons in here.

FIGARO
Why can't you let me in on them?

SUSANNA
Because I don't want to. Are you my servant, or not?

FIGARO
But I don't understand why you don’t like the most convenient room in the palace.

SUSANNA
Because I'm Susanna, and you're crazy.

FIGARO
Thanks, you're too flattering: just see if it could go better anywhere else.

Duettino

FIGARO
Supposing the lady calls you at night:
ding ding: in two steps you can be there from here.
Or if it should happen that his lordship wants me,
dong dong: in three bounds I'm there at his service.

SUSANNA
And if one morning the dear Count should ring,
ding ding, and send you three miles away,
dong dong, and the devil should lead him to my door?
Dong dong, in three bounds ...

FIGARO
Hush, hush, Susanna.

SUSANNA
Listen.

FIGARO
Quick, tell me!

SUSANNA
If you wish to hear the rest, banish those suspicions which do me wrong.

FIGARO
I burn to hear the rest: doubts and suspicions freeze my blood.

“Tutto ancor non ho perso… Via, resti servita”
Duet of Marcellina and Susanna from Le nozze di Figaro, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1771)

Recitativo

MARCELLINA
Tutto ancor non ho perso:
mi resta la speranza:
ma Susanna si avanza:
io vo' provarmi...
fingiam di non vederla.
E quella buona perla la vorrebbe sposar!

SUSANNA
(Di me favella.)

MARCELLINA
Ma da Figaro alfine non può meglio sperarsi:
“argent fait tout.”

SUSANNA
(Che lingua! Manco male ch'ognun sa quanto vale.)

MARCELLINA
Brava! Questo è giudizio!
Con quegli occhi modesti, con quell'aria pietosa, e poi...

SUSANNA
(Meglio è partir.)

MARCELLINA
(Che cara sposa!)

Duettino

MARCELLINA
Via resti servita, Madama brillante:

SUSANNA
Non sono sì ardita, madama piccante:

MARCELLINA
no, prima a lei tocca,

SUSANNA
no, no, tocca a lei,

MARCELLINA E SUSANNA
io so i dover miei, non fo inciviltà.

MARCELLINA
La sposa novella!

SUSANNA
La dama d'onore!

MARCELLINA
Del Conte la bella!

SUSANNA
Di Spagna l'amore!

MARCELLINA
I meriti!

SUSANNA
L'abito!

MARCELLINA
Il posto!

SUSANNA
L'età!

MARCELLINA
Per Bacco, precipito, se ancor resto qua.

SUSANNA
Sibilla decrepita, da rider mi fa.

Recitative

MARCELLINA
All is not lost yet:
I still have hope:
But here comes Susanna:
I'll make a start…
Let's pretend not to see her.
And that's the pearl of virtue he intends to marry!

SUSANNA
(She's talking about me.)

MARCELLINA
But, after all, from Figaro one can't hope for anything better:
Money means everything.

SUSANNA
(What language! Not bad, everyone knows what her words are worth.)

MARCELLINA
Bravo! Such judgement!
And those modest eyes and demure expression, as well as…

SUSANNA
I'd better go.

MARCELLINA
What a charming bride!

Duettino

MARCELLINA
After you, gracious lady.

SUSANNA
I'd not be so bold, worthy ma'am.

MARCELLINA
No, you go first, pray.

SUSANNA
No, no, after you.

MARCELLINA AND SUSANNA
I know my place, I'd not so presume.

MARCELLINA
A bride to be first.

SUSANNA
A lady of honour.

MARCELLINA
The Count's little beauty.

SUSANNA
The toast of Spain.

MARCELLINA
Your merit.

SUSANNA
Your dress.

MARCELLINA
Your position.

SUSANNA
Your age.

MARCELLINA
I'll fly into a rage if I stay here any longer.

SUSANNA
The decrepit old witch makes me laugh.

“Ja nye sposobna k grusti tomnoy”
Olga’s aria from Evgenii Onegin, by Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

OLGA
Ах, Таня, Таня!
Всегда мечтаешь ты!
А я так не в тебя,
Мне весело, когда я пенье слышу
"Уж как по мосту-мосточку,
По калиновым досочкам..."

Я не способна к грусти томной
Я не люблю мечтать в тиши,
Иль на балконе, ночью темной,
Вздыхать, вздыхать,
Вздыхать из глубины души.

Зачем вздыхать, когда счастливо
Мои дни юные текут?
Я беззаботна и шаловлива,
Меня ребенком все зовут!
Мне будет жизнь всегда, всегда мила,
И я останусь, как и прежде
Подобно ветреной надежде,
Резва, беспечна, весела.

Я не способна к грусти томной
Я не люблю мечтать в тиши,
Иль на балконе, ночью темной,
Вздыхать, вздыхать,
Вздыхать из глубины души.
Зачем вздыхать, когда счастливо
Мои дни юные текут?
Я беззаботна и шаловлива,
Меня ребенком все зовут!

OLGA
Ah, Tanya, Tanya!
You're always dreaming!
But I am quite unlike you,
I feel happy when I hear singing.
'Across the bridge, the little bridge,
along the hazel planks …'

I was not made for melancholy sighing,
I do not like to dream in silence,
nor, on the balcony in the dark night,
to sigh, to sigh,
to sigh from the depths of my soul.

Why should I sigh, when full of happiness,
my youthful days flow gently by?
I am carefree and full of fun,
and everyone calls me a child!
For me life will always, always be sweet,
and I shall retain, as I always have,
light-hearted confidence,
be playful, carefree, merry!

I was not made for melancholy sighing,
I do not like to dream in silence,
nor, on the balcony in the dark night,
to sigh, to sigh,
to sigh from the depths of my soul.
Why should I sigh, when full of happiness,
my youthful days flow gently by?
I am carefree and full of fun,
and everyone calls me a child!

“The Silver Aria”
Baby Doe’s aria from The Ballad of Baby Doe, by Douglas Moore (1893-1969)

BABY DOE
Please, gentleman, please,
Gold is a fine thing for those who admire it.
Gold is like the sun,
But I am a child of the moon and silver.
Silver is the metal of the moon,
Secret smiler, wrapped in wonder,
Floating in her cloudy magic,
T’is the moon that mints her silver
In the deeps of darkened earth.
All that’s glowing, cool and tender, has the feel of silver in it.
Silver in an infant’s laughter, silver on the sage's brow;
Silver in a moonlit river echoes the silver orb above.
I am a child of the moon
And always will adore her element.
Dreaming as I watch it gleam,
I am mining heavenly ore.
Gold is the sun, But silver,
Silver lies hidden in the core of dreams.

“Kuda, kuda vï udalilis”
Lensky’s aria from Evgenii Onegin, by Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

LENSKY
Куда, куда, куда вы удалились,
весны моей златые дни?

Что день грядущий мне готовит?
Его мой взор напрасно ловит:
в глубокой тьме таится он!
Нет нужды; прав судьбы закон!
Паду ли я, стрелой пронзённый,
иль мимо пролетит она,
всё благо; бдения и сна
приходит час определённый!
Благословен и день забот,
благословен и тьмы приход!

Блеснёт за утра луч денницы,
и заиграет яркий день,
а я, быть может, я гробницы
сойду в таинственную сень!
И память юного поэта
поглотит медленная Лета.
Забудет мир меня; но ты, ты, Ольга...

Скажи, придёшь ли, дева красоты,
слезу пролить над ранней урной
и думать: он меня любил!
Он мне единой посвятил
рассвет печальный жизни бурной!
Ах, Ольга, я тебя любил!
Тебе единой посвятил
рассвет печальный жизни бурной!
Ах, Ольга, я тебя любил!

Сердечный друг, желанный друг,
приди, приди!
Желанный друг, приди, я твой супруг,
приди, я твой супруг!
Приди, приди!
Я жду тебя, желанный друг,
приди, приди, я твой супруг!

Куда, куда, куда вы удалились,
златые дни, златые дни моей весны?

LENSKY
Where, where, where have you gone,
golden days of my spring?

What does the coming day have in store for me?
His my eye in vain catches:
in the deep darkness, he lies!
No need; human destiny is the law!
Shall I fall from being pierced by an arrow,
or shall it fly fly,
all is good; vigil and sleep
comes at the appointed hour!
Blessed be the day of worries,
Blessed be darkness coming!

A flash of the early morning sunrise,
and a sparkle of a bright day,
and I, perhaps, I will be in a grave
I will go down in a mysterious shadow!
And the memory of the young poet
swallowed by the slow Lethe.
The world will forget me but you, you, Olga ...

Tell me, if you would come, fair maiden
a tear to shed over my untimely urn
and think: he loved me!
He told me he alone was dedicated
dawn of a sad stormy life!
Oh, Olga, I love you!
You have a single dedicated lover
Dawn of a sad stormy life!
Oh, Olga, I love you!

Much-loved friend, welcome friend
Come, come!
Welcome friend , come, I'm your husband,
Come, I’m your husband!
Come, come!
I'm waiting for you, welcome friend
Come, come, I’m your husband!

Where, where, where have you gone,
golden days, golden days of my spring?

“Elle a fui la tourterelle”
Antonia’s aria from Les Contes d’Hoffmann, by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)

ANTONIA
Elle a fui, la tourterelle!
Ah! souvenir trop doux!
Image trop cruelle!
Hélas! à mes genoux,
Je l'entends, je le vois!

Elle a fui, la tourterelle,
Elle a fui loin de toi;
Mais elle est toujours fidèle
Et te garde sa foi.
Mon bienaimé, ma voix t'appelle,
Oui, tout mon cœur est à toi.
Chère fleur qui viens d'éclore
Par pitié réponds moi!
Toi qui sais s'il m'aime encore,
S'il me garde sa foi!
Mon bienaimé, ma voix t'implore,
Ah! que ton cœur vienne à moi.
Elle a fui, la tourterelle,
Elle a fui loin de toi.

ANTONIA
She has fled, the dove!
Ah! Memory so sweet!
Image too cruel!
Alas! on my knees,
I hear it, I see it!

She has fled, the dove,
She has fled far from you;
But she's still faithful
And you keep his faith.
My beloved, my voice is calling you,
Yes, my whole heart is yours.
Dear flower that has just bloomed
Please answer me!
You who know if he still loves me,
If he keeps his faith in me!
My beloved, my voice implores you,
Ah! let your heart come to me.
She fled, the dove,
She has fled far from you.

“Barcarolle”
Duet of Giulietta and Nicklausse from Les Contes d’Hoffmann, by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)

NICKLAUSSE
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour
Souris à nos ivresses,
Nuit plus douce que le jour,
Ô belle nuit d'amour!

GIULIETTA ET NICKLAUSSE
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses,
Loin de cet heureux séjour
Le temps fuit sans retour.
Zéphyrs embrasés,
Versez-nous vos caresses,
Zéphyrs embrasés,
Donnez-nous vos baisers!
vos baisers! vos baisers! Ah!
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour,
Souris à nos ivresses,
Nuit plus douce que le jour,
Ô belle nuit d'amour!
Ah! Souris à nos ivresses!
Nuit d'amour, ô nuit d'amour!
Ah!

NICKLAUSSE
Beautiful night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh beautiful night of love!

GIULIETTA AND NICKLAUSSE
Time flies by, and carries away
Our tender caresses for ever!
Time flies far from this happy oasis
And does not return
Burning zephyrs
Embrace us with your caresses!
Burning zephyrs
Give us your kisses!
Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!
Beautiful night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh, beautiful night of love!
Ah! Smile upon our joys!
Night of love, oh, night of love!
Ah!

“Mimi! Speravo di trovarvi qui… Donde lieta uscì”
Act III, Scene III from La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

MARCELLO
Mimì?!

MIMÌ
Son io. Speravo di trovarti qui.

MARCELLO
È ver. Siam qui da un mese
di quell'oste alle spese.
Musetta insegna il canto ai passeggeri;
Io pingo quel guerrier
sulla facciata.
È freddo. Entrate.

MIMÌ
C'è Rodolfo?

MARCELLO
Sì.

MIMÌ
Non posso entrar, no, no!

MARCELLO
Perché?

MIMÌ
O buon Marcello, aiuto!

MARCELLO
Cos'è avvenuto?

MIMÌ
Rodolfo m'ama. Rodolfo m'ama e mi fugge
il mio Rodolfo si strugge per gelosia.
Un passo, un detto,
un vezzo, un fior…
lo mettono in sospetto...
Onde corrucci ed ire.
Talor la notte fingo di dormire
e in me lo sento fiso
spiarmi i sogni in viso.
Mi grida ad ogni istante:
Non fai per me,
prenditi un altro amante,
non fai per me!
Ahimè!
In lui parla il rovello;
lo so, ma che rispondergli, Marcello?

MARCELLO
Quando s'è come voi non si vive in compagnia.

MIMÌ
Dite bene, dite bene.
Lasciarci conviene.
Aiutateci, aiutateci voi;
noi s'è provato più volte, ma invano.

MARCELLO
Son lieve a Musetta ed ella è lieve a me,
perché ci amiamo in allegria...
Canti e risa, ecco il fior
d'invariabile amor!

MIMÌ
Fate voi per il meglio.

MARCELLO
Sta ben! Ora lo sveglio.

MIMÌ
Dorme?

MARCELLO
E piombato qui un'ora avanti l'alba;
s'assopìsopra una panca.
Guardate…
Che tosse!

MIMÌ
Da ieri ho l'ossa rotte.
Fuggì da me stanotte dicendomi:
È finita.
A giorno sono uscita e me ne venni a questa volta.

MARCELLO
Si desta...
s'alza, mi cerca...
viene…

MIMÌ
Ch'ei non mi veda!

MARCELLO
Or rincasate Mimì...
per carità!
Non fate scene qua!

RODOLFO
Marcello. Finalmente!
Qui niun ci sente.
Io voglio separarmi da Mimì.

MARCELLO
Sei volubil così?

RODOLFO
Già un'altra volta credetti morto il mio cor,
ma di quegli occhi azzurri allo splendor…
esso è risorto…
Ora il tedio… l'assale.

MARCELLO
E gli vuoi rinnovare il funerale?

RODOLFO
Per sempre!

MARCELLO
Cambia metro.
Dei pazzi è l'amor tetro
che lacrime distilla.
Se non ride e sfavilla
l'amore è fiacco e roco.
Tu sei geloso.

RODOLFO
Un poco.

MARCELLO
Collerico, lunatico, imbevuto di pregiudizi,
noioso, cocciuto!

MIMÌ
(Or lo fa incollerir! Me poveretta!)

RODOLFO
Mimì è una civetta…
che frascheggia con tutti.
Un moscardino di Viscontino
le fa l'occhio di triglia.
Ella sgonnella e scopre la caviglia
con un far promettente e lusinghier.

MARCELLO
Lo devo dir?
Non mi sembri sincer.

RODOLFO
Ebbene no, non lo son.
Invan, invan nascondo…
la mia vera tortura.
Amo Mimì sovra ogni cosa al mondo,
io l'amo, ma ho paura, ma ho paura !
Mimì è tanto malata!
Ogni dì più declina.
La povera piccina è condannata!

MARCELLO
Mimì?

MIMÌ
Che vuol dire?

RODOLFO
Una terribil tosse
l'esil petto le scuote…
e già le smunte gote di sangue rosse...

MARCELLO
Povera Mimì!

MIMÌ
Ahimè, morire?!

RODOLFO
La mia stanza è una tana squallida...
il fuoco ho spento.
V'entra e l'aggira il vento
di tramontana.
Essa canta e sorride
e il rimorso m'assale.
Me, cagion del fatale
mal che l'uccide!

MARCELLO
Che far dunque?

MIMÌ
O mia vita!

RODOLFO
Mimì di serra è fiore.
Povertà l'ha sfiorita;
per richiamarla in vita
non basta amor!

MIMÌ
Ahimè! È finita!
O mia vita! È finita!
Ahimè, morir!

MARCELLO
Oh, qual pietà!
Poveretta!
Povera Mimì!

RODOLFO
Che?! Mimì! Tu qui?
M'hai sentito?

MARCELLO
Ella dunque ascoltava?

RODOLFO
Facile alla paura
per nulla io m'arrovello.
Vien là nel tepor!

MIMÌ
No, quel tanfo mi soffoca!

RODOLFO
Ah, Mimì!

MARCELLO
È Musetta che ride.
Con chi ride? Ah, la civetta!
Imparerai.

MIMÌ
Addio.

RODOLFO
Che! Vai?

MIMÌ
D'onde lieta uscì al tuo grido d'amore,
torna sola Mimì al solitario nido.
Ritorna un'altra volta
a intesser finti fior!
Addio, senza rancor.
Ascolta, ascolta.
Le poche robe aduna che lasciai sparse.
Nel mio cassetto stan chiusi quel cerchietto d'or
e il libro di preghiere.
Involgi tutto quanto in un grembiale
e manderò il portiere…
Bada, sotto il guanciale
c'è la cuffietta rosa.
Se vuoi serbarla a ricordo d'amor!
Addio, senza rancor.

MARCELLO
Mimì?!

MIMÌ
I was hoping to find you here.

MARCELLO
It’s true. We've been here a month
at the innkeeper's expense.
Musetta teaches singing to the patrons,
I am painting those warriors
on the façade.
It's cold. Come inside.

MIMÌ
Is Rodolfo here?

MARCELLO
Yes.

MIMÌ
I can't go in, no, no!

MARCELLO
Why?

MIMÌ
Oh good Marcello, help me!

MARCELLO
What's happened?

MIMÌ
Rodolfo …Rodolfo loves me and avoids me,
my Rodolfo is consumed with jealousy.
A step, a word,
an affectation, a flower…
make him suspicious…
so that he is vexed and angry.
Sometimes at night I pretend to be asleep
and I can feel him intently
Spying on my dreams in my face.
He constantly cries:
you're no good for me,
find yourself another lover,
you're no good for me!
Alas!
It's the fury talking inside him,
I know, but what can I answer him, Marcello?

MARCELLO
Two people like you shouldn't live together.

MIMÌ
You’re right; you're right.
We must part.
Help us, oh do help us;
we have tried many times, but in vain.

MARCELLO
I'm easygoing with Musetta, and she is with me, because we love lightheartedly.
Singing and laughter, these are the flowers
of lasting love!

MIMÌ
Do what you can for the best.

MARCELLO
Right! I'll wake him now.

MIMÌ
Is he asleep?

MARCELLO
He landed here an hour before dawn
and fell asleep on a bench.
Look…
What a cough!

MIMÌ
Since yesterday I've been chilled to the bone.
He left me last night saying:
It's all over.
At daybreak I came out and made my way in this direction.

MARCELLO
He's getting up…
he's looking for me . . .
he's coming…

MIMÌ
He mustn't see me!

MARCELLO
Go home now, Mimì, f
or goodness' sake!
Don't make a scene here!

RODOLFO
Marcello. Finally!
No one can hear us here.
I want to leave Mimì.

MARCELLO
Are you so fickle?

RODOLFO
Once before I believed my heart was dead,
but at the splendour of those blue eyes…
it revived…
Now boredom… assails it…

MARCELLO
And you want to renew the funeral?

RODOLFO
Forever!

MARCELLO
Change your tune.
It's only the love of fools
that's dismal and distils tears.
If it doesn't laugh and sparkle,
love's feeble and gruff.
You're jealous.

RODOLFO
A little.

MARCELLO
Touchy, moody, full of prejudices,
tiresome, headstrong!

MIMÌ
(Now he'll make him angry! Poor me!)

RODOLFO
Mimì is a minx…
who flirts with everybody.
Some dandy of a viscount
makes eyes at her.
She lifts her skirts and shows her ankle
in a most provocative and encouraging way.

MARCELLO
Must I say it?
I don't think you mean all that.

RODOLFO
Very well, I don't.
In vain, in vain I hide…
my real torment.
I love Mimì more than anything in the world,
I love her, but I'm afraid, but I’m afraid!
Mimì is so very ill!
Everyday she grows weaker.
The poor little thing is doomed!

MARCELLO
Mimì?

MIMÌ
What does he mean?

RODOLFO
A terrible cough
shakes her weak frame…
her pale cheeks are flushed…

MARCELLO
Poor Mimì!

MIMÌ
Alas, I will die?!

RODOLFO
My room is a squalid den…
I've no fire.
The cold north wind comes in and blows all round.
She sings and smiles,
and remorse assails me.
I am the cause of this fatal malady
that's killing her.

MARCELLO
What's to be done, then?

MIMÌ
Oh my life!

RODOLFO
Mimì is a greenhouse flower.
Poverty has withered it;
To recall her back to life
love is not enough!

MIMÌ
Alas! It's all over!
Oh my life! It is at an end!
Alas, to have to die!

MARCELLO
O how pitiful!
Poor little thing!
Poor Mimì!

RODOLFO
What?! Mimì! You’re here?
Did you hear what I was saying?

MARCELLO
She was listening then?

RODOLFO
An easy prey to fear,
I get in a state about nothing.
Come into the warmth!

MIMÌ
No, that fume suffocates me!

RODOLFO
Ah, Mimì!

MARCELLO
That’s Musetta laughing.
Who’s she laughing with? Ah, the flirt!
I'll teach you.

MIMÌ
Goodbye.

RODOLFO
What! Are you going?

MIMÌ
Whence happily she came at your call of love,
Mimì will return to her lonely nest.
She'll return once again
to embroider imitation flowers.
Goodbye, and no hard feelings.
Listen, listen.
Gather up the few things I left about.
Shut in my drawer is that little gold ring,
and my prayer book.
Bundle everything up in an apron
And I’ll send the concierge…
Mind you, under the pillow
you'll find the pink bonnet.
If you want to, keep it to remember our love!
Goodbye, and no hard feelings.

“Quando m’en vo”
Musetta’s aria from La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

MUSETTA
Quando m’en vo soletta per la via,
la gente sosta e mira
e la bellezza mia tutta ricerca in me
da capo a pie'…

MARCELLO
Legatemi alla seggiola!

ALCINDORO
Quella gente che dirà?

MUSETTA
Ed assaporo allor la bramosia sottil,
che da gli occhi traspira
e dai palesi vezzi intender sa
alle occulte beltà.
Così l'effluvio del desìo tutta m'aggira,
felice mi fa!

ALCINDORO
Quel canto scurrile mi muove la bile!

MUSETTA
E tu che sai, che memori e ti struggi

MIMÌ
Io vedo ben...
che quella poveretta
tutta invaghita ell’è,

MUSETTA
da me tanto rifuggi?
So ben le angoscie tue non le vuoi dir,

MIMÌ
tutta invaghita di Marcel, tutta invaghita ell’è,

MUSETTA
Ma ti senti morir!

MUSETTA
When I go all by myself through the street,
people stop and look,
and everyone looks at my beauty
from head to foot.

MARCELLO
Tie me back to this chair!

ALCINDORO
What will all these people say?

MUSETTA
And I savour the subtle desire
which transpires from their eyes,
and from the obvious charms is intended in
the hidden beauty.
Like the scent of desire is all around me,
it makes me happy!

ALCINDORO
This scandalous song upsets me!

MUSETTA
And you know, that memory is tearing you up

MIMÌ
I see now...
the poor maiden
is in love with him,

MUSETTA
and yet you refuse me?
I know well the agony you don’t wish to speak,

MIMÌ
she is in love with Marcello!

MUSETTA
but you feel yourself dying!