Largo al factotum - Il barbiere di Siviglia

Gioachino Rossini

Make way for the factotum of the city, rushing to his shop now that it's dawn. Ah, life is good for a classy barber! Bravo, Figaro, you are the luckiest man alive. Ready for anything, night or day, always busy. A better life for a barber couldn’t be found! Razors and combs, lancets and scissors, all are here at my command. And then there are “extras” for men and women. Everyone wants me, everyone asks for me: ladies, youth, old people, blonds: what about my wig…a shave…some leeches for bleeding…give this note to my lover! Figaro! Heavens, what mayhem! One at a time, please! Figaro. Here I am. I’m here, there, up, down, and sparks fly from me. I’m the factotum of the city. I’m a lucky man!

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Ernani, involami - Ernani

Giuseppe Verdi

The night is approaching and Silva hasn’t returned.  Ah, if only that hated old man would disappear. I only see the image of Ernani before me.  Ernani, fly with me away from this place of sorrow. Let us flee away in love to an inviting place; I will follow you to an Eden on earth. Everything not of Ernani is odium and hatred.  Fly me away from this dismal place. Fly me to the heart I love!

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Alzati…Eri tu - Un ballo in maschera

Giuseppe Verdi

Rise! I say! Before you depart, you may see your son once more. Wait there, in silence and shame hiding my dishonor.  Yet she is not the one truly guilty; it is another who shall bear the brunt of my vengeance! It will be your blood, streaming from my dagger in recompense for my woe.  Is it you that have sullied a pure love?  She in whose chasteness my spirit delighted? You betrayed me in a love where I felt secure. You have poisoned my life. You were my best friend!  Oh, the pangs of a joy departed, lost caresses that made life heaven when I held Amelia in my arms. The joys of love are gone!

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Flower Song - Carmen

Georges Bizet

The flower you had thrown at me I kept in prison. Withered and dry, this flower always kept its sweet smell, and for hours, closing my eyelids I would get drunk from this fragrance and saw you in the night. I began to curse you and hate you and say: Why did destiny place you in my path?

Then I blamed myself for blasphemy and I felt only one desire, one hope – to see you again, Carmen, to see you!  You had only to appear to take complete hold of me. O my Carmen – I love you!

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Silvio/Nedda Duet - Pagliacci

Ruggero Leoncavallo

SILVIO: Nedda!

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NEDDA: Silvio! How rash at this hour!

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SILVIO: Bah! I knew I was risking nothing. I saw both Canio and Beppe far off at the tavern, and I came here cautiously through woods I know.

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NEDDA: A moment earlier and you’d have met Tonio!

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SILVIO: Oh, Tonio the half-wit!

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NEDDA: The half-wit is to be feared! He loves me - so he told me now - and in his bestial passion dared assault me, yelling for kisses.

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SILVIO: By God!

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NEDDA: But with the whip I curbed the fury of the filthy dog!

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SILVIO: Ah, you will live forever with this worry... Oh, Nedda, Nedda, resolve my fate, stay with me, Nedda, stay! You know the holiday is ending and everyone will leave tomorrow. Nedda, Nedda! What will become of me and of my life when you have gone away?

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NEDDA: Silvio!

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SILVIO: Nedda, Nedda, answer me. If it is true that you have never loved Canio, if, as you say, you loathe this wandering life and trade, and if your great love for me is not a myth, come, let us flee tonight! Come, flee with me!

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NEDDA: Oh, do not tempt me! would you ruin my life? Quiet, Silvio, quiet. This is madness! I put my trust in you, who have my heart... Do not abuse my ardent passion! Do not tempt me! Take pity on me! Do not tempt me! And then who knows? It’s best to part. Fate is against us, our words are in vain! Yet from my heart I cannot tear you. I shall live only on the love which you awakened in my heart!

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SILVIO: Oh! Nedda, let us flee!

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NEDDA: Do not tempt me! Would you ruin my life?

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SILVIO: Nedda, stay! What will happen to me when you’ve gone? Stay! Nedda! Let’s fly! Ah, come! Ah! Come with me! Ah, come! No! You love me no longer!

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NEDDA: Yes, I love you, I love you!

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SILVIO: And you will leave tomorrow? Why, if you must leave me without pity, why then, sorceress, have you ensnared me? Why then, that kiss of yours in the abandon of your close embrace? If you forget those fleeting hours, I cannot do so: I desire still that warm abandon and that flaming kiss that kindled such a fire in my blood!

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NEDDA: I have forgotten nothing: I have been stirred and shaken by your burning love. All I wish is to share a life of love with you, bound to you ever in a sweet enchantment. To you I give myself and you I take; you alone rule me: I am wholly yours.

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NEDDA & SILVIO: Let us forget everything.

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NEDDA: Look into my eyes! Look at me! Kiss me, kiss me! Let us forget everything!

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SILVIO: You will come?

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NEDDA: Yes. Kiss me.

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NEDDA & SILVIO: Yes, I look at you, I kiss you, I love you, I love you!

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Donna non vidi mai - Manon Lescaut

Giacomo Puccini

Never have I seen such a woman! To tell her: I love you, awakens my heart to new life.

“My name is Manon Lescaut.” How those fragrant words linger in my spirit and caress hidden chords. O gentle murmur, pray never cease! “My name is Manon Lescaut.” O gentle murmur, pray never cease!

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Depuis le jour - Louise

Gustave Charpentier

Since the day I gave myself, my destiny seems all flower-strewn. I think I'm dreaming under a fairy sky, my soul still intoxicated by your first kiss! What a beautiful life! My dream wasn't a dream!

Oh! I'm so happy! Love is spreading its wings over me! In the garden of my heart sings a new joy! Everything is vibrant, everything rejoices at my triumph! All around me everything is smiling

light and joy! And I'm trembling delightfully from the charming memory of the first day

of love!

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Nemico della patria - Andrea Chénier

Umberto Giordani

Enemy of the Fatherland? It is an old fairy tale that the people accept. Born in Constantinople? Foreigner! Did he study in Saint Cyr? Soldier! Traitor! Of Dumouriez an accomplice!

And poet? Subversion of hearts and of habits! One day I was happy, pure, innocent and strong. I believe myself a colossus – yet am always a servant! I changed my master. An obedient servant of violent passion! Ah, worse! I kill and I tremble, and while I kill, I weep! I have lost faith

in the dreamed destiny. My path was radiant with glory! I wanted to awaken people, collect their tears and turn the world into a Pantheon of love. I wanted to embrace all in a single kiss of love!

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Tu, tu amore? - Manon Lescaut

Giacomo Puccini

MANON - You, you, my love! You? Ah, my supreme love! Oh, heaven!

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DES GRIEUX - Ah, Manon!

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MANON - Then you no longer love me? You used to love me so much! Oh, those long kisses! Oh, the lingering enchantment! Your erstwhile sweetheart awaits your revenge. Oh, don’t look at me like that; you never looked so stern before!

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DES GRIEUX - Yes, wicked girl, my revenge –

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MANON - Oh, it’s my fault! It’s true!

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DES GRIEUX - Ah, wicked girl, my revenge –

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MANON - Oh, it’s true! You no longer love me – Ah, it’s true! So you no longer love me? You used to love me so much – you no longer love me!

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DES GRIEUX - Be silent, you are breaking my heart!  You do not know of the dark, desolate days that descended upon me!

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MANON - I want your forgiveness. See? I’m rich –

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DES GRIEUX - Be quiet!

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MANON - Doesn’t this seem a feast of gold and color?  It’s all for you!

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DES GRIEUX - For pity’s sake, be quiet!

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MANON - I imagined a radiant future; love brings you here. I betrayed you, that’s true! I am at your feet! I betrayed you – call me wicked – I kneel at your feet. Oh, I want your forgiveness, oh, do not deny it to me! Am I perhaps less charming and beautiful than Manon of other days?

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DES GRIEUX - O temptress! This is the old spell that blinds me!

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MANON - It’s love’s magic; yield to it, I am yours!

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DES GRIEUX - I can struggle no longer! I am defeated!

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MANON - Surrender, I am yours! Ah come, come! In your arms clasp Manon who loves you...

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DES GRIEUX - I cannot struggle, o temptress!

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MANON - Hold me tight to your breast! Manon longs for you alone, for you alone!

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DES GRIEUX - I can no longer struggle!

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MANON - Surrender, I am yours!

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DES GRIEUX - I am defeated: I love you! –

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MANON - Ah, come!

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DES GRIEUX - – I love you!

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MANON - Ah, come! Manon longs for you alone, for you alone!

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DES GRIEUX - I can no longer struggle! I am defeated: I love you!

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MANON - Come! In your arms clasp Manon who loves you!

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DES GRIEUX - In the depths of your eyes I read my destiny; all the treasures of the world are in your divine lips!

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MANON - Ah! Manon longs for you alone – hold me close to your breast. Return to my desires, I beg you, return to the ecstasy, to the lingering kisses of love! Live in rapture close to my heart. My mouth is an altar where your kiss is God!

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DES GRIEUX - These are your kisses! This is your love! Your kiss, sweet treasure, sets me afire!

In your dear arms there is rapture, oblivion!

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MANON - Lips adored and tender!

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DES GRIEUX - Manon, you bring me nigh to death!

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BOTH - Such sweet suffering!