BSaSS Lyric Translations

One third of our program is not sung in English, so here are translated Lyrics from our Black Swans and Spooky Songs concert on Sunday, October 28th.

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“Tre volte miagola la gatta in fregola” (Witches Chorus) from Macbeth by Guiseppe Verdi

Three times the cat has mewed in heat.
Three times the hoopoe has mourned and wailed.
Three times the porcupine has yelped to the wind.
This is the hour!
Come, let us dance quickly round the cauldron and mix powerful brews in our circle.
Sisters, to work! The water is steaming, crackling and bubbling.

Poisonous toad, which sucks wolfsbane, thorn,
root plucked at twilight, cook and bubble in the devil’s pot.
Tongue of viper, hair of bat, blood of monkey, tooth of dog,
boil and be swallowed up in the infernal brew

Finger of child strangled at birth, lip of Tartar,
heart of heretic, thicken the hellish broth.
Boil! Boil!
Sprits, black and white, red and blue blend together!
You who well know how, blend together!

“Una macchia è qui tuttora!” (Lady Macbeth Aria) from Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi

There’s still a spot here.
Away, I tell you, curse you!
One, two, it is time!
Are you shaking? Don’t you dare go in?
A soldier and so cowardly?
Shame! Come on, hurry!

Who would have thought that there would be
so much blood in that old man?

The Thane of Fife was he not recently a husband and father?
What happened?
Shall I never be able
to clean these hands?

There’s still
human blood here. Thee perfumes
of all Arabia could not clean
this little hand. Alas!

Put on your nightgown. Come on, wash yourself!
Banquo is dead and no-one
has ever come back from the grave.
To bed, to bed.
What’s done cannot be undone.

Someone is knocking! Come on, Macbeth,
do not let your pallor accuse you.

`

“Il Dolce Suono” (Mad Scene) from Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti

The sweet sound, hits me, his voice!
Ah, that voice into my heart decends!
Edgardo, I surrender to you
A chill creeps into my breast!
trembles every fiber!
falters my foot!

Near the fountain next to me sit a while!
Alas! arises a tremendous phantom and separates us!
Here let us take refuge, by the foot of the alter.
Strewn is it with roses!

A harmony celestial, do you not hear?
Ah, the marrige hymn plays!
The ceremony for us draws near! Happiness!
Oh, joy that one feels and does not speak of!

The incense burns!
Brilliant the sacred torches, shining all around!
Here is the minister!
Give me your right hand!
Oh, joyous day!

At last, I am your, at last you are mine,
to me you have been given by God.
Every pleasure is more grateful,
(it is) to me, with you, more sweet
From peaceful heaven a smile
life to us will be.

`

“Bel Piacere” from Agrippina by G.F. Handel

It is great pleasure to enjoy a faithful love!
it pleases the heart.
Splendor is not measured by beauty
if it does not come from a faithful heart.

The sweet sound, hits me, his voice!
Ah, that voice into my heart decends!
Edgardo, I surrender to you
A chill creeps into my breast!
trembles every fiber!
falters my foot!

Near the fountain next to me sit a while!
Alas! arises a tremendous phantom and separates us!
Here let us take refuge, by the foot of the alter.
Strewn is it with roses!

A harmony celestial, do you not hear?
Ah, the marrige hymn plays!
The ceremony for us draws near! Happiness!
Oh, joy that one feels and does not speak of!

The incense burns!
Brilliant the sacred torches, shining all around!
Here is the minister!
Give me your right hand!
Oh, joyous day!

At last, I am your, at last you are mine,
to me you have been given by God.
Every pleasure is more grateful,
(it is) to me, with you, more sweet
From peaceful heaven a smile
life to us will be.