Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791):
Bravo, signor padrone!?Se vuol ballare
(from Le Nozze di Figaro) (The Marriage of Figaro) (1786)
Text: Lorenzo da Ponte, after Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais? play
La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro
Original Key/Recorded Key (aria): F Major
Teach-Track begins: m. 1 of recitative
Accompaniment Track begins: m. 1 of recitative
Pianist: Daniel Michalak
Figaro was previously seen in ?The Barber of Seville? when he helped the Count obtain the hand of Rosina. To show his gratitude, the Count made him his personal valet. At the start of the opera, however, the Count begins to treat Figaro poorly due to his engagement to the beautiful Susannah, one of many for whom the noble man has his sights set on. Figaro maintains good humor throughout despite the Count?s ceaseless pursuit of his fiancé, though is quick-witted and plotting when he needs to be.
In this aria, which occurs early on in the opera, Figaro expresses his anger at the Count?s desire to re-instate an old decree which allows him to sleep with servant girls on the night of their weddings and vows to outwit the Count.
Recit:
Bravo, signor padrone!
Bravo, [sir] master!
Ora incomincio a capire il mistero
Now I-begin to understand the mystery
e a veder schietto tutto il vostro progetto.
and to see plainly all [the] your plan.
A Londra, e vero? Voi ministro, io corriero,
To London, is-it true? You (as) minister, I (as) courier,
e la Susanna. . . segreta ambasciatrice.
and [the] Susanna. . . secret ambassadress.
Non sara, Figaro il dice.
It will not be, Figaro says it.
Aria:
Se vuol ballare, signor Contino,
If you-wish to-dance, sir, little-Count,
il chitarrino le suonero, si.
the little-guitar for-you I-will-play, yes.
Se vuol venire nella mia scuola,
If you-wish to-come into my school,
la capriola le insegnero, si.
the capriola (dance step) to-you I-will-teach, yes.
Sapro. . . ma piano, piano. . .
I- will-know . . but quietly, quietly. .
meglio ogni arcano dissimulando scoprir potra.
better each secret dissembling to-discover I-will-be-able.
L 'arte schermendo, l'arte adoprando
cunning parrying, cunning using,
di qua pungendo, di la scherzando,
from here pricking, from there joking,
tutte le macchine rovesciero.
all (your) stratagems I-will-overturn.