Au Fond de Temple Saint - Pearl Fisher's Duet. Two versions
"Au fond du temple saint"from The Pearl Fishers (Les Pêcheurs de Perles) Music by Georges Bizet.
Two versions here, first one with Rufus Wainwright and David Byrne (tip of the hat to Luce Holmes for spotting it), second (at bottom of page) with Jussi Björling & Robert Merrill - more famous but more traditional, doesn't quite get the frailness of the first one. I guess which one you prefer depends on how you're feeling about love.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVTEFBzopVM&w=700]
Scene: The coast of Ceylon. Zurga, the newly elected leader of the little world of Cingalese fishermen, has scarcely been inaugurated when Nadir, a long-lost friend of his youth, appears. After greeting one another with affection, they recall the time when they were foolish enough to quarrel over a beautiful priestess in the temple of Brahma, Leila.
In the duet, "Au fond du temple saint" the two men sing rapturously about falling in love at first sight with a beautiful woman as she was revealed to them for an instant in the dim, incense-clouded temple. For each it was an almost mystical experience. When they realize they were in love with the same woman, they are alarmed. Believing themselves cured of the old infatuation, they swear eternal friendship.
| ZURGA
C'était le soir!
Dans l'air par la brise attiédi,
Les brahmines au front inondé de lumière,
Appelaient lentement la foule à la prière!
NADIR Au fond du temple saint Paré de fleurs et d'or, Une femme apparaît! ZURGA Une femme apparaît! NADIR Je crois la voir encore! ZURGA Je crois la voir encore! NADIR 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! ZURGA Son voile se soulève! Ô vision! ô rêve! La foule est à genoux! ZURGA & NADIR 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 soulève et la foule est à genoux! NADIR Mais à travers la foule Elle s'ouvre un passage! ZURGA Son long voile déjà Nous cache son visage! NADIR Mon regard, hélas! La cherche en vain! ZURGA Elle fuit! NADIR Elle fuit! Mais dans mon âme soudain Quelle étrange ardeur s'allume! ZURGA Quel feu nouveau me consume! NADIR Ta main repousse ma main! ZURGA Ta main repousse ma main! NADIR De nos cœurs l'amour s'empare Et nous change en ennemis! ZURGA Non, que rien ne nous sépare! NADIR Non, rien! ZURGA Que rien ne nous sépare! NADIR Non, rien! ZURGA Jurons de rester amis! NADIR Jurons de rester amis! ZURGA Jurons de rester amis! ZURGA & NADIR Oh oui, jurons de rester amis! Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse! En ce jour qui vient nous unir, Et fidèle 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 même sort, Soyons unis jusqu'à la mort! |
BRYN
It was in the evening!
In the air cooled by a breeze,
The brahmanes with faces flooded with light,
Slowly called the crowd to prayer!
ANDREA At the back of the holy temple, decorated with flowers and gold, A woman appears! BRYN A woman appears! ANDREA I can still see her! BRYN I can still see her! ANDREA The prostrate crowd looks at her amazed and murmurs under its breath: look, this is the goddess looming up in the shadow and holding out her arms to us. BRYN Her veil parts slightly. What a vision! What a dream! The crowd is kneeling. BRYN & ANDREA Yes, it is she! It is the goddess, more charming and more beautiful. Yes, it is she! It is the goddess who has come down among us. Her veil has parted and the crowd is kneeling. ANDREA But through the crowd she makes her way. BRYN Already her long veil hides her face from us. ANDREA My eyes, alas! Seek her in vain! BRYN She flees! ANDREA She flees! But what is this strange flame which is suddenly kindled in my soul! BRYN What unknown fire is destroying me? ANDREA Your hand pushes mine away! BRYN Your hand pushes mine away! ANDREA Love takes our hearts by storm and turns us into enemies! BRYN No, let nothing part us! ANDREA No, nothing! BRYN Let nothing part us! ANDREA No, nothing! BRYN Let us swear to remain friends! ANDREA Let us swear to remain friends! BRYN Let us swear to remain friends! BRYN & ANDREA Oh yes, let us swear to remain friends! Yes, it is her, the goddess, who comes to unite us this day. And, faithful to my promise, I wish to cherish you like a brother! It is her, the goddess, who comes to unite us this day! Yes, let us share the same fate, let us be united until death! |
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PYt2HlBuyI&w=700]