CHAN 3093 BOOK.qxd - Chandos
CHAN 3093 BOOK.qxd - Chandos
CHAN 3093 BOOK.qxd - Chandos
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<strong>CHAN</strong> <strong>3093</strong> <strong>BOOK</strong>.<strong>qxd</strong> 11/4/07 3:31 pm Page 48<br />
Dorabella<br />
What is beating, beating here?<br />
Dorabella and Guglielmo<br />
What is beating, beating here?<br />
It’s my heart that’s beating,<br />
it’s with me no longer,<br />
it’s living with you now,<br />
it beats there for you.<br />
Guglielmo<br />
And here let me place it.<br />
Dorabella<br />
It must not stay here.<br />
Guglielmo<br />
Oh, come now, don’t tease me.<br />
Dorabella<br />
What’s happ’ning?<br />
Guglielmo<br />
Do not look.<br />
Dorabella<br />
I feel such confusion, but love is to blame.<br />
Guglielmo<br />
(Forgive me, Ferrando,<br />
this cannot be true.)<br />
Guglielmo<br />
And now turn and face me.<br />
Dorabella<br />
What is it?<br />
13<br />
Guglielmo<br />
Look closely, look closely,<br />
rejoice in the sight.<br />
Dorabella and Guglielmo<br />
How happy these changes<br />
of hearts and affections,<br />
what strange new sensations,<br />
what painful delight.<br />
Da Ponte, translation by Anne Ridler<br />
reproduced by permission of ENO Benevolent Fund<br />
from The Opera Ball<br />
Henri and Hortense’s Duet<br />
Henri<br />
This is the clock, she’s not arrived yet,<br />
if she’s delayed, what shall I do?<br />
The trouble is I’ve no experience<br />
with a secret rendezvous!<br />
My first attempt to woo a lady,<br />
I hope she won’t be long.<br />
Oh! How I wonder if she will like me!<br />
What will happen if it all goes wrong?<br />
(looking at the clock)<br />
Where can she be?<br />
Should I stand and wait?<br />
(looking at the clock again)<br />
Oh! I’m on tenterhooks,<br />
how could she be late?<br />
Who, who, who can advise me what to do?<br />
Where on earth should I search?<br />
Has she left me in the lurch?<br />
No, no, no I’ll go exploring high and low<br />
till I find my lady fair.<br />
So let’s start over there!<br />
Hortense (entering, wearing a mask)<br />
This is the clock, no sign of Henri,<br />
but he’ll come… without a doubt,<br />
though it could be a tricky problem<br />
if his cash has all run out!<br />
I’m pretty sure he has no notion<br />
who wrote the billet-doux.<br />
And if I know our young lothario<br />
he’s ripe for a rendezvous!<br />
(looking at the clock)<br />
Where can he be?<br />
I can’t wait all night!<br />
(looking at the clock again)<br />
There he is! Five minutes late,<br />
let’s give him a fright!<br />
(She steps back a bit so she can’t be seen by Henri,<br />
and is able stand behind him.)<br />
Henri<br />
No sign at all,<br />
and I’m at my wits end.<br />
Hortense<br />
Why not turn around, my gallant friend?<br />
Henri<br />
Madame…<br />
Hortense<br />
Monsieur!<br />
Henri<br />
Thank heaven, we meet at last!<br />
Oh! Tell me quickly, who you are!<br />
Hortense<br />
No, no! Not quite so fast!<br />
In a cosy chambre séparée,<br />
come, let’s enjoy a tender tête à tête.<br />
While we sip champagne<br />
our cares will melt away,<br />
and who knows what pleasures await.<br />
Henri (nervously)<br />
In a cosy chambre séparée…<br />
Hortense<br />
Come, let’s enjoy a tender tête à tête…<br />
Henri<br />
While we sip champagne…<br />
Hortense<br />
Our cares will melt away…<br />
Hortense and Henri<br />
And who knows what pleasures await!<br />
Hortense<br />
You’ll follow me?<br />
Henri<br />
Yes, anywhere!<br />
Hortense<br />
Shh! Quiet, or all the world will hear!<br />
48<br />
49
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