Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Elina Garancha: Habanera by Georges Bizet from Carmen

Habanera ("L'amour est un oiseau rebelle") from Act I of the French opera CARMEN by Georges Bizet. Listen as the great mezzosoprano of our time, Elina Garancha sings Habanera:



More on Habanera by Georges Bizet and his opera "Carmen" in my other blog; this one with the Toreador Song.

Role :
Carmen, a gypsy

Voice Part :
mezzo-soprano
Fach : lyric mezzo|dramatic mezzo

Setting :
A square in Seville

Range :
D4 to F#/Gb5.
Tessitura :
D4 to D5

Synopsis :
After appearing out of the cigarette factory, Carmen seductively sings about love and its unpredictable actions.

English Translation:

Love is a rebellious bird
That nothing can tame,
And it is simply in vain to call it
If it is convient for it to refuse.
Nothing will work, threat or pleading,
One speaks, the other stays quiet;
And it's the other that I prefer
He said nothing; but he pleases me.
Love! Love! Love! Love!


Love is the child of the Bohemian,
It has never, never known any law,
If you don't love me, I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
If you don't love me,
If you don't love me, I love you!
But, if I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
If you don't love me,
If you don't love me, I love you!
But, if I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!


The bird you thought to surprise
Bat its wing and flew away;
Love is far away, you can wait for it;
If you wait for it no more, it is there!
All around you, quickly, quickly,
It comes, goes, then it comes back!
You think to hold it, it avoids you;
You think to avoid it, it holds you!
Love, love, love, love!


Love is the child of the Bohemian,
It has never, never known any law,
If you don't love me, I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
If you don't love me, I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
If you don't love me,
If you don't love me, I love you!
But, if I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!
If you don't love me,
If you don't love me, I love you!
But, if I love you,
If I love you, keep guard of yourself!

Elina Garancha sings CHANSON BOHÉMIENNE (Gypsy Song)

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