Wolfgang Amadaeus Mozart

Translation

In men, in soldiers, to hope for fideltiy?

Don’t let anybody hear you, for pity’s sake!

All of them are made of the same paste;

the rustling leaves and inconstant breezes

have more stability than men.

Lying tears, fals glances, deceitful voices,

charms are their primary qualities.

They love us only for their own delight;

afterwards they despise us, deny us love;

there is no use asking a barbarian for mercy.

Let us repay, o women, with the same money

this evil kind of indiscreet men;

let us love at our leisure, for our vanity.

About the Aria

Taken from Act 1 in the 18th Century, Despina is a servant to two sisters who’s lovers have left to answer the call of duty. The Sisters are grieved and Despina tries to cheer them up telling them to think positively because even if they did die there are plenty more men to select.

About the Aria

Taken from Act II in the 19th Century England. Josephine’s father is captain of the HMS Pinafore ship. Sir Joseph Porter, who works for her father, asked Josephine for her hand in marriage but she is in love with someone else, a poor sailor. This aria expresses her indecisiveness of whom to choose to be with. She wrestles with the possibilities and misfortunes when thinking of each man.

About the Composer

Playwright/lyricist W.s. Gilbert (1836-1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) defined operetta in England. Their first major hit was HMS Pinafore. They poked fun at the Royal Navy & the British obsession with social status. Gilbert’s plots remain perfect examples of ‘topsy-turvydom’ in which primeval fairies rub elbows with English lords, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates reconcile with majors and generals. Gilbert’s lyrics employ double rhyming & punning, and served as the very model for 20th Century Broadway lyricists. Sullivan was a classically trained musician who devoted much of his career to religious hymns & grand opera, contributed catchy melodies which were also emotionally moving. Their last joint work was “The Grand Duke” in 1896.

Pietro Alessandro Yon

Translation

Oh come let us adore him, Christ the Lord

About the Composer

Pietro Alessandro Yon (August 8,1886- November 22,1943) was an italian born organist who had a successful career in the United States. He was born in Settimo Vittone, Italy and studied at the conservatories of both Milan and Turin. He was the organist for a short while at the Vatican and at the Royal Church in Rome before he went to the US. He is most famous for his Toccatina for organ and Gesu Bambino.

About the Song

Gesu Bambino is a stunningly moving peace that draws the listener to reflect on the Majesty that is Christ Jesus. The chorus is the most familiar as it is used traditionally as a Christmas melody.

Manuel de Falla

Translation

They closed his eyes & covered his face with

white linen

And some sobbing, others in silence,

From the sad chamber departed.

The light that burned in a glass on the floor,

on the wall cast the shadow one could see

Intermittently drawn, the rigid form of the body

The day was dawning & at its first light,

With its thousand sounds woke the town.

Before that contrast of life & mystery,

of light & darkness I reflected a moment:

My God, how alone are the dead!

About the Composer

Manuel de Falla ( November 23 ,1876 –  November 14, 1946) was a Spanish composer of  classical music. He was born in Cádiz. His early teacher in music was his mother; at the age of 9 he was introduced to his first piano professor. He met a number of composers who had an influence on his style, including Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Paul Dukas. He returned to Madrid at the beginning of World War 1.

About the song

This piece has an eerie mood. A steady tempo resembles the slowly dying heart beat, while the melody sings hauntingly.

  Manuel de Falla

Translation

Song of the mothers that hold their children in their arms

Sweet Jesus, you are sleeping!

by the holy breast that suckled you,

I pray that this my son not be a soldier!

They will take him away and he was my flesh!

They will kill him and he was my happiness!

When he’s dying he will say, “Mother of mine!”

And I will not know the hour nor the day.

About the Composer

Manuel de Falla ( November 23 ,1876 –  November 14, 1946) was a Spanish composer of  classical music. He was born in Cádiz. His early teacher in music was his mother; at the age of 9 he was introduced to his first piano professor. He met a number of composers who had an influence on his style, including Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Paul Dukas. He returned to Madrid at the beginning of World War 1.

About the song

This piece is an emotionally charged prayer out of desperation for a woman to keep one’s son safe and out of the military. 

Translation

Sleep at the end of the alley

dear infant, where you lie beneath;

around your space we will sing songs of summer.

Should a white dove pass overhead

I make my offering to the shadow of your tomb

About the Composer

Samuel Osborne Barber II (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is among his most popular compositions and widely considered a masterwork of modern classical music. He wrote his first musical composition at the early age of 7 and attempted to write his first opera at the age of 10. He was an organist at the age of 12. When he was 14, he entered the Curtis Institute, a conservatory where he studied piano, composition, and voice.

About the Song

With its legato phrasing, this piece captures one’s heart with memories of a lost child. The mood is somber and the piece ends quickly in gloom.

 Johannes Brahms

Translation

Rosy evening clouds hang in the firmament,

Longing-filled for thee, 

my love, my heart is rent;

Heaven glows with splendrous light

And I dream by day and night

But of thee, of the sweetheart dear to me.

About the Composer

Johannes Brahms was born on May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897. He was a German Composer of the Romantic Period. He was born in Hamburg and in his later years he settled in Vienna, Austria. Along with Johann Sebastian Bach and  Ludwig van Beethoven, Brahms is often considered among the greatest and most influential composers of all time.

Zigeunerlieder is a compilation of songs that were originally for choir but was re-arranged for voice. The text was written by Hugo Contrat and the music is taken from Hungarian folk songs that tell about a gypsy’s life.

Johannes Brahms

Translation

Art thou thinking often now, sweetheart, my love,

What thou once with holy vow to me hast sworn?

Leave me not, deceive me not,

Thou know’st not how dear thou art to me;

Love’st thou me as I thee,

Then God’s smile shall crown thee graciously.

About the Composer

Johannes Brahms was born on May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897. He was a German Composer of the Romantic Period. He was born in Hamburg and in his later years he settled in Vienna, Austria. Along with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven, Brahms is often considered among the greatest and most influential composers of all time.

About the Song

Zigeunerlieder is a compilation of songs that were originally for choir but was re-arranged for voice. The text was written by Hugo Contrat and the music is taken from Hungarian folk songs that tell about a gypsy’s life.

 ITALIAN:

Stizzoso, mio stizzoso,

Voi fate il borioso,

Ma nò, ma non vi può giovare;

Bisogna al mio divieto

star cheto, cheto,

E non parlare,

Zitt!… Zitt!…

Serpina vuol così.

Zitt!… Zitt!…

Serpina vuol così.

Cred’io che m’intendete, si,

che m’intendete, si,

Dacchè mi conoscete

son molti e molti dì.

 English:

Cross one, my cross one, you behave with arrogance, but no! it won’t help your position. You must keep to my prohibitions and keep silent, and not talk, Shut up! … shut up! … These are Serpina’s commands. Shut up! … shut up! … These are Serpina’s commands. Now I think you have understood, Yes, you have captured the message, Because already a long time has passed from when you first made acquaintance with me.

http://www.aria-database.com/cgi-bin/aria-search.pl?1015a

 
      from Intermezzo Primo of the Italian opera, La Serva Padrona by Giovanni Pergolesi
      Libretto : G.A. Federico

• Role : Serpina, one of Uberto’s servants
• Voice Part : soprano   Fach : soubrette
• Setting : Uberto’s house, mid 1700′s
• Range : B4 to A6. Tessitura : E4 to E5
• Synopsis : Uberto is planning to go out but Serpina thinks it is much too late for him to go out. She lectures him on the subject, conveniently forgetting that it was she who made him late by not bringing his chocolate to him earlier.

I LOVE Teresa’s performance in this video!

This Aria is already in English.

Here is a link to a video performance on Youtube- I think this Soprano is fabulous! The Youtube account, however, has disabled the ability to embed the video on any site, so I can’t post the video here, but I WILL place the link below, hopefully it goes through when you click on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uReeJn3v0EM

(If the video below doesn’t work, that’s b/c the Youtube account holder has disabled it. It still works when you see it on Youtube, just click the link above)