♪Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour – Offenbach (Barcarolle)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_nuit,_%C3%B4_nuit_d’amour

Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour (often referred to as the Barcarolle) is a piece from The Tales of Hoffmann, Jacques Offenbach‘s final opera. This piece opens the opera’s third act, set in Venice. It is sung by the characters Giulietta – the protagonist Hoffmann’s love, a Venetian courtesan – and Nicklausse – Hoffmann’s poetic muse, in disguise as his faithful male companion.^[2] In addition to the Venetian location it sets the seductive and sinister tone of the Venice act in general and of Giulietta’s character specifically.^[3] The music reappears later in the act in a septet, “Hélas! Mon cœur s’égare encore,”^[2] which was constructed by editors of the opera.^[4]

Lol, a wonderfully charming scene from La Vita é Bella (Life is Beautiful) when Guido falls in love with Principessa, woos her by practising Arthur Shopenhauer’s theory of  “the World as Will & Idea” at the Opera House under the accompaniment of “Barcarolle” from Jaques Offenbach’s Opera “The Tales of Hoffmann”.

Offenbach – Barcarolle from ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ – Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca
A barcarolle is a folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music composed in that style.
Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour (Beautiful night of love)
Anna Netrebko (soprano)
Elina Garanca (mezzo-soprano)
Prague Philharmonic Orchestra; Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
Prague Philharmonic Choir; Chorus Master: Lukas Vasilek
From the Deutsche Grammophon album:Anna Netrebko: Souvenirs, 2008

Video scenes from Vienna Waltzes by New York City Ballet
Der Rosenkavalier: erste Walzerfolge performed by Stephanie Saland, Adam Lüders, and ensemble (This was considered Stephanie Saland’s retirement performance).
Videotaped in performance at New York State Theater, New York, on June 27, 1993, during New York City Ballet’s Balanchine Celebration, by Robert Score.

Lyrics & Translation

Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour
Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour
Ô,belle nuit d’amour!
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses
Loin de cet heureux séjour
Le temps fuit sans retour
Zéphyrs embrasés
Versez-nous vos caresses
Zéphyrs embrasés
Donnez-nous vos baisers!
Vos baisers! Vos baisers! Ah!
Belle nuit, ô, nuit d’amour
Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour,
Ô, belle nuit d’amour!
Ah! souris à nos ivresses!
Nuit d’amour, ô, nuit d’amour!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!

Translation:
Lovely night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh beautiful night of love!
Time flies by, and carries away
Our tender caresses for ever!
Time flies far from this happy oasis
And does not return
Burning zephyrs
Embrace us with your caresses!
Burning zephyrs
Give us your kisses!
Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!
Lovely night, oh, night of love
Smile upon our joys!
Night much sweeter than the day
Oh, beautiful night of love!
Ah! Smile upon our joys!
Night of love, oh, night of love!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!