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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes |
| Libretti |
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| Bizet: CARMEN |
In the Met's 1900-01 season, Carmen had only one performance, for which Zélie De Lussan, a Brooklyn-born specialist in the role, was indisposed and replaced by Rosa Olitzka (the season before, Olitzka had sung the part in Italian, and perhaps she did so again). In 1901-02, however, Emma Calvé, the most famous of all Carmens, returned to the company and Bizet's opera was played seven times. (The following season, with Calvé again absent and Camille Seygard the resident gypsy, only three performances were given.) In addition to the two cylinders here, a barely audible version of the "Habanera" will be found on Side 12/Band 3.
Act II: Finale excerpt : "Quand tu verras comme c'est beau" ... to end of act
Emma Calvé (s), Carmen
Marguerite Marilly (s), Frasquita
Unidentified (ms), Mercedes
Thomas Salignac (t), Don José
Albert Reiss (t), Remendado
Charles Gilibert (b), Dancaïro
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra--
Phillippe Flon
February 20 (matinee), 1902
[Glackens 29. According to the Met's pay books, Marie Van Cauteren, announced in the program as Mercedes, did not sing; however, the name of her substitute is illegible.]
After José has threatened his captain Zuniga in Lillas Pastia's tavern, he has no choice but to join the gypsy smugglers. Carmen consoles him with a vision of this new life. The first part of the ensemble finale is cut. (In the remaining part, which the chorus sings in Italian, the soloists can clearly be heard responding in French!)
[original]
CARMEN
Quand tu verras
comme c'est beau, la vie errante,
pour pays l'univers,
et pour loi sa volonté!
Et surtout, la chose enivrante:
la liberté! la liberté!
CARMEN, FRASQUITA, MERCEDES, DON JOSE,
DANCAÏRE, REMENDADO, and CHORUS
Ah! Per tetto il ciel, la vita errante
(la vie errante)
Per tetto il ciel, la vita errante,
(le ciel ouvert)
per magion l'orbe inter,
per magion l'orbe inter,
per re la volontà,
si, per magion l'orbe inter,
l'orbe inter,
per re la volontà,
ed alfin, la cosa importante:
la libertà! la libertà!
[translation]
CARMEN
Then you will see
how lovely it is to lead a wandering life--
your home is the universe,
your own wishes are laws!
And above all, the intoxicating fact:
freedom! freedom!
CARMEN, FRASQUITA, MERCEDES, DON
JOSE,DANCAÏRE, REMENDADO, and CHORUS
Your roof is the sky, the wandering life,
(the wandering life)
your roof is the sky, the wandering life,
(the open sky)
your home is the whole world,
your home is the whole world,
your own will is king,
yes, your home is the whole world,
the whole world,
your own will is king,
and above all, the important fact:
freedom! freedom!
Act IV: "Voici les banderilleros" ... "Si tu m'aimes, Carmen, tu pourras, tout à [l'heure]"
Antonio Scotti (b) or Marcel Journet (bs),
Escamillo
Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra--
Phillippe Flon
1902
[Glackens 44: "1902." Principally choral, this excerpt reaches the beginning of Escamillo's declaration of love; in 1902, Scotti sang the role on January 10, February 12 and 26, and March 8, Journet on February 1 and 20 (matinee).]
The crowd before the bullring watches the procession of bullfighters, which climaxes with the arrival of Escamillo.
[original]
CHORUS
Banderilleros e quanti son!
Un altra quadriglia s'avanza!
Un altra quadriglia s'avanza!
Son questi i picador!
Son questi i picador!
Essi pure han bella prestanza,
e ugual valore:
li vedrem i tori irritar! ( Escamillo enters
with Carmen. )
L'Espada! L'Espada!
L'Espada! L'Espada!
Escamillo! Escamillo!
Escamillo! Escamillo! L'Espada!
È l'Espada, la fina lama,
colui che dee la morte dar,
sul finir ognun acclama
se con arte sà il colpo dar.
Viva Escamillo! Viva Escamillo!
Ah! bravo!
Già viene la quadriglia!
E la quadriglia dei Toreador!
Meraviglia fa Siviglia!
Corriam, corriam, i posti a ricercar!
Gia viene la quadriglia!
E la quadriglia dei Toreador!
Viva Escamillo! Viva Escamillo! ecc.
Bravo! Viva! ecc.
ESCAMILLO
( to Carmen )
Si tu m'aimes, Carmen,
si tu m'aimes, Carmen,
tu pourras, tout à [l'heure,
être fière de moi!]
[translation]
CHORUS
Look at all the banderilleros!
Another quadrille is approaching!
Another quadrille is approaching!
These are the picadors!
These are the picadors!
They too cut fine figures,
and have equal courage:
we'll see them provoke the bull! ( Escamillo enters
with Carmen. )
The Espada! The Espada!
The Espada! The Espada!
Escamillo! Escamillo!
Escamillo! Escamillo! The Espada!
He is the Espada, with the keen sword,
the one who must deal death;
at the end all will cheer
if he does it with skill.
Viva Escamillo! Viva Escamillo!
Ah! bravo!
Here comes the quadrille!
It's the quadrille of the Toreador!
Seville marvels at it!
Let's hurry, let's hurry to find seats!
Here comes the quadrille!
It's the quadrille of the Toreador!
Viva Escamillo! Viva Escamillo! etc.
Bravo! Viva! etc.
ESCAMILLO
( to Carmen )
If you love me, Carmen,
if you love me, Carmen,
you will be able, very soon,
to be proud of me!
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