Libretto by Edward Fitzball (1792-1873) and Alfred Bunn (1796-1860)
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WALLACE, W.V.: Maritana 8.660308-09 http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.660308-09 William Vincent Wallace (1812-1865) Maritana (1845) An opera in three acts Libretto by Edward Fitzball (1792-1873) and Alfred Bunn (1796-1860) Maritana, a gypsy girl - Majella Cullagh, Soprano Lazarillo, an apprentice boy - Lynda Lee, Mezzo-soprano Don Cæsar de Bazan - Paul Charles Clarke, Tenor Don José de Santarém, minister to the King - Ian Caddy, Baritone Captain of the Guard/Alcade - Damien Smith, Baritone Charles II, King of Spain - Quentin Hayes, Bass Chorus of Soldiers, Gypsies and Populace - RTÉ Philharmonic Choir CD 1 [5] Chorus Angels that around us hover, [1] Overture Guard us till the close of day; Our heads, oh! let your white wings cover, Act I: A Square in Madrid See us kneel, and hear us pray! [2] Chorus [6] Maritana Sing, pretty maiden, sing Of fairy wand had I the power, Sing that lovely song again Some palace bright my home should be, Sing, pretty maiden, By marble fount, in orange bower, The thrilling airs of Spain Dancing to music's melody. Sing of love and beauty, Bow'r or tented plain, Don José Sing, sweet Maritana, Those lovely eyes, those ruby lips Sing that song again, Might win a brighter home for thee, Than crystal hall, where Fairy trips [3] Maritana Lightly to echo's minstrelsy It was a knight of princely mien, One blue and golden day, Maritana Came riding thro' the forest green, Of fairy wand had I command, That round his castle lay; At moonlit hour, And there heard he a Gipsy maid In silken bow'r, Her songs of love reveal, To music's note, Like a spirit of light, On air I'd float, She enchanted the Knight, In golden sheen 'Twas a King! And jewels gay, Of pleasure, Queen, I'd laugh and sing, Chorus And dance and play. 'Twas a King! Don José Maritana Those sparkling eyes 'Twas the King of Castile Are brighter prize Than gems that glow Chorus On Kingly brow; Sing, Maritana! No delay, Of those avail, Love's minstrel, Maritana, Ere yet they fade, we will pay, thus we pay For joy will quail, When time o'er shade, [4] Maritana Then laugh while love I hear it again, And beauty aid. 'Tis the harp, 'Tis the harp in the air! Maritana/Don José It hangs on the walls He thinks, as others oft have done, Of the old Moorish halls; My wild fantastic thoughts are vain Tho' none know its minstrel, Are visions all now here, now gone, Or how it came there Like dreams that rise and fade again. Listen! There! 'Tis the harp in the air! Thus woman's heart is ever bought, Fold brightly gleams but in her eyes' Chorus So, by the lamp, the moth is caught, Listen pilgrim list, Burneth its giddy wing, and dies. 'Tis the harpin the air! There! There! There! There! ⓟ 1996 & © 2011 Naxos Rights International Ltd. Page 1 of 7 WALLACE, W.V.: Maritana 8.660308-09 http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.660308-09 Don José Lazarillo Think of the splendour the golden glory Oh! forbear, indeed you must, The bright career which waits your future steps, Be this frightful quarrel staid, One round of triumph! If for me your life were lost, ever more would grief upbraid. [7] Captain See, the culprit, Don Caesar Oh! you soon shall bite the dust, Lazarillo Honour's debt is quickly staid, Mercy! Oh! that by a cut and thrust, Dunning creditors were paid! Captain Quick, arrest him! Captain Come, you will not prove the first Lazarillo Braggart whom this blade hath staid; Mercy! Only with a single thrust, Your account is quickly paid. Captain See, the culprit, quick arrest him! Don José Why my orders disobey? Don't forget before you thrust, Holy week who dares invade, Lazarillo Be his quarrel e'er so just, Mercy! By the halter will be paid. Don Caesar Chorus List, I pray you! See this combat, all now must, If a mere child's poor entreaty Blow for blow, and blade to blade, Fail to move that heart of thine: Happy he who falls who falls the first, If his voice excite no pity, Conquest by the hangman paid. Brother soldier list to mine. [8] Chorus Captain Pretty Gitana, tell us, Come, your duty quickly seek What the fates decree? Shall we happy be? Don Caesar Pretty Gitana, shall I married be? Oh! if 'twere not Holy week! Maritana Captain Yes, the language of the skies Pray'rs and tears won't make me civil! With ease can I impart; But plainer read, in starry eyes, Don Caesar The language of the heart. Gallant Captain! With whom begins the charm? Captain Chorus Loose my cloak! With me! Don Caesar Maritana Rage consumes me! Young Soldier, first your palm let me see! I shall choke! Soldier Know, Sir, who I am; Count de Carofa, Willingly Don Caesar de Bazan; Who, in the presence of his Monarch, Maritana Cover'd hath a right to appear. You love a pretty dame? You have insulted me beyond all bearing; Redress I seek. Soldier Hence, to the devil, with the Holy week, That's true. Thus I chastise, thy daring! Maritana Captain You are to blame! A challenge! vengeance! Beware of wooing an old man's wife, Her youth and beauty will cause you strife. Don Caesar A challenge! forward! Chorus Beware of wooing an old man's wife, Chorus Her youth and beauty will cause you strife! A challenge! the Edict! horror! Maritana Who next, pursues the charm? ⓟ 1996 & © 2011 Naxos Rights International Ltd. Page 2 of 7 WALLACE, W.V.: Maritana 8.660308-09 http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.660308-09 Chorus Don Caesar Tell me! Well, in the name of the King Since you arrest, I stay; Maritana My sword I thus resign, Good Father, now your palm And now the laws obey, Desist, I pray, Yes I obey. Old Man Cheerfully, Don José Yes, by the name of the King Maritana Swear I, the golden dream, You have a handsome bride Whene'er you wak'st again, Shall on thee brightly beam. Old Man That's true! Alcade Your sword at once resign, Maritana And now the laws obey, Away! Of beauty she's the pride. When weak old dotards to young maids wed, Maritana Young men do sometimes make love instead. Ah! what do my eyes behold? Free the gallant captive, pray; Chorus I tomorrow shall have gold, When weak old dotards to young maids wed, Gladly I'll his ransom pay. Young men do sometimes make love instead. Lazarillo/Chorus Don José Oh! misfortune, for this quarrel, In turn what say you; shall I tell your fortune? Must his life ignobly pay? Maritana Don José With all my heart. I forewarn'd him, for this quarrel He with life must surely pay. Don José Attend, I pray you. Maritana It is, indeed, a fortune I now impart! Free the gallant captive, pray, To you I promise rank, Gladly I'll his ransom pay, A carriage! A splendid Equipage! And speedy marriage! Don Caesar Gen'rous creature, they'll not hear you; Maritana Ah! more than that, within my hand Maritana I'll with gold his ransom pay; Don José Ah! better than that, within your hand Don Caesar All good angels hover near you, Maritana/Don José All must die of something some day, Almost a sceptre, high command, 'Tis a debt we all must pay. A princely heart a palace home, The mirror'd hall the glit'ring dome. Act II, Scene 1: In a cell in one of Madrid’s prison fortresses [9] Don Caesar [10] Lazarillo Farewell, my gallant Captain; Alas, those chimes so sweetly stealing, I told you how 'twould be; Gently dulcet to the ear, You'll not forget the lesson due to me. Sound like pity's voice, revealing To the dying, "death is near." Alcade Still he slumbers, how serenely! Stay! In the name of the King I you arrest, Sir. Not a sigh disturbs his rest; Oh! that angels now might waft him Maritana/Lazirillo/Don Caesar/Don José/Alcade To the mansions of the blest, Yes, those chimes, so softly swelling, Maritana As from some holy sphere, 'Midst of this tumult and strife, Sound like hymns of spirits telling Scarce half awake I seem, To the dying "Peace is here," The words that you have said Come! abide with us in heaven, Still paint the golden dream. Here no grief can reach thy breast; Come approving angels wait thee Lazirillo/Chorus In the mansions of the blest. Why, in the name of the King A noble Lord thus stay [11] Don Caesar I/We Don Caesar defend Hither as I came, one poor old man, If he the word but say With silver hair, and teardrops in his eyes, Wept that my life was wasted to a span, And mercy importun'd with bitter cries ⓟ 1996 & © 2011 Naxos Rights International Ltd. Page 3 of 7 WALLACE, W.V.: Maritana 8.660308-09 http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.660308-09 Lazarillo [14] Don José Thy Father? In happy moments day by day, The sands of life may pass, Don Caesar In swift but tranquil tide away Frantic were his looks, that poor old man, From time's unerring glass. With silver hair, grief's accents on his tongue, Yet hopes we used as bright to deem, Lost in despair, grief's accents on his tongue, Remembrance will recall, Lost in despair, before the guard he ran, Whose pure and whose unfading beam And held a document, at least, so long! Is dearer than them all.