Thank you Mr. Bizet

Mr. Bizet

It is a gorgeous morning...cool, misty, dreamy, gloomy sunrise, expresso expressoing....

It was nice to be around family, over the past weeks, fireplace fires warm and cozy, comfort food, dog snuggled in.  This is so far removed from the angst of the 6p news, the horrible political squabbles....and this duet (meaning sung by 2  -  duo   duet) from the Pearl Fishers...an opera by George Bizet.    My first recording of it is at least 60 years old.  I owned a copy of it when I was under 10 and not by choice - I just didn't know what I was buying.  I thought all opera was like this - with impossible names like Zurga and Nadir who like this girl and decide not to pursue otherwise to break up a friendship.   What I have found in these 60 years since acquisition is all opera isn't like this. Little in music is like this.
I liken it to writing the shortest of short stories with prose impossible to duplicate.
To the text of this duet (below); how many friendships have been broken and sworn anew because of two guys and a girl or two girls and a guy.....I had no idea of such things...I was 12. Laura and Barb were the objects of my affection...but then later there was Cindy....and later still and now the love of my life.  You should wake up to her or him and have this as music to listen to.  You really should.

Au Fond du Temple Saint

Au fond du temple saint
Parée de fleurs et d'or
Une femme apparaît!
Je crois la voir encore!
Une femme apparaît!
Je crois la voir encore!

La foule prosternée
La regarde, etonnée
Et murmure tous bas
Voyez, c'est la déesse!
Qui dans l'ombre se dresse
Et vers nous tend les bras!

Son voile se souleve!
Ô vision! Ô reve!
La foule est à genoux!

Oui, c'est elle!
C'est la déesse
Plus charmante et plus belle!
Oui, c'est elle!
C'est la déesse
Qui descend parmi nous!
Son voile se souleve et la foule est à genoux!

Mais à travers la foule
Elle s'ouvre un passage!
Son long voile dejà
Nous cache son visage!
Mon regard, hélas!
La cherche en vain!

Elle fuit!
Elle fuit!

Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse!
En ce jour qui vient nous unir
Et fidele à ma promesse
Comme un frère je veux te chérir!
C'est elle, c'est la déesse
Qui vient en ce jour nous unir!
Oui, partageons le meme sort