Ten Little Chances to be Free (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tenlittlebullets) wrote2010-07-31 09:35 pm
tenlittlebullets) wrote2010-07-31 09:35 pm
Mmmm.
More shiny from Sic Transit Opera Mundi: Andrea Chénier. If you listen to nothing else, listen to "Son la vecchia Madelon."
(Context: "La patrie est en danger" and the call has gone out for more volunteers for the army. An old blind woman named Madelon appears to present her grandson, and is never seen again after this scene.)
Son la vecchia Madelon,
mio figlio è morto;
avea nome Roger;
morì alla presa della Bastiglia;
il primo suo figlio ebbe a Valmy galloni e sepolcuro
Ancora pochi giorni, e io pur morrò.
`E il figlio di Roger!
L'ultimo figlio,
l'ultima goccia del mio vecchio sangue...
Prendetelo!
Non dite che è un fanciullo.
`E forte...
Può combattere e morire!
I am old Madelon
My son is dead
His name was Roger
He died at the taking of the Bastille
His first son won his stripes and his tomb at Valmy
A few more days, and I too shall die
And Roger's son!
The last son
The last drop of my old blood...
Take him!
Do not say that he is only a boy
He is strong
He can fight and die!
As for me, I made another thirty bucks reading Greek myths to a five-year-old and an eight-year-old while their parents were at a party. And now I am kicking back with a glass of port. Life is good for the moment.
(Context: "La patrie est en danger" and the call has gone out for more volunteers for the army. An old blind woman named Madelon appears to present her grandson, and is never seen again after this scene.)
Son la vecchia Madelon,
mio figlio è morto;
avea nome Roger;
morì alla presa della Bastiglia;
il primo suo figlio ebbe a Valmy galloni e sepolcuro
Ancora pochi giorni, e io pur morrò.
`E il figlio di Roger!
L'ultimo figlio,
l'ultima goccia del mio vecchio sangue...
Prendetelo!
Non dite che è un fanciullo.
`E forte...
Può combattere e morire!
I am old Madelon
My son is dead
His name was Roger
He died at the taking of the Bastille
His first son won his stripes and his tomb at Valmy
A few more days, and I too shall die
And Roger's son!
The last son
The last drop of my old blood...
Take him!
Do not say that he is only a boy
He is strong
He can fight and die!
As for me, I made another thirty bucks reading Greek myths to a five-year-old and an eight-year-old while their parents were at a party. And now I am kicking back with a glass of port. Life is good for the moment.
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(For the benefit of your other readers:
Enemy of the Patrie?
It's an old fable, that luckily the public still swallows.
Born in Constantinople? Foreigner!
Studied at Saint-Cyr? Soldier!
Traitor! Accomplice of Dumouriez!
And poet? Subverter of hearts and customs!
Once, it was my joy to live among hate and vengeance,
pure, innocent, and strong -
I believed myself a giant.
I'm still a servant.
I've changed masters -
an obedient servant of violent passion!
Ah, worse! I kill and I tremble,
and while I kill, I weep!
I, a son of the Redeemer,
first heard her cry in the world,
and united my cry with hers.
Have I now lost faith in the destiny I dreamed?
How bright with glory was my path!
To reawake conscience in the hearts of the people,
gather the tears of the conquered and suffering,
make the world a Pantheon,
change men into gods,
and in a single kiss and embrace,
to love all people!
[my off-the-cuff translation, since the aria-database version loses loads of nuance]
Although I also like "La mamma morta" if it's done well - ie. where she's really delirious by the end.)
But yes. I looooooooooove this opera. Especially Gérard. But I saw the Met version a few years ago, and in the parade of revolutionaries in act II, Couthon was actually in a wheelchair-- *geeksqueeeee!*
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