Georges Bizet (1838-1875):
L?amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera)*
(from Carmen) (1873-4, premiered 1875)
Text: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, after Prosper Merimée?s novel
Original Key/Recorded Key: D Minor
Teach-Track begins: m. 1
Accompaniment Track begins: m. 1
Pianist: Daniel Michalak
N.B. This recording includes a slight fermata on the D-natural of the first ?si tu ne m?aimes pas?? (m. 39), in order to heighten the unexpectedness of the succeding words, ?je t?aime.?
* The original French spelling of this dance form is habanera; the original Spanish spelling, habanera, is actually inappropriate within the context of the opera (compare, e.g., Ravel?s Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera [not habanera]).
Notes © 1999 by Daniel O. Michalak
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
Love is a bird rebellious
Que nul ne peut apprivoiser,
That no one is able to tame,
Et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle,
And it is quite in vain that one him calls,
S'il lui convient de refuser.
If it him suits to refuse.
Rien n'y fait, menace ou priere,
Nothing is to be done, threat or prayer,
L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait;
One speaks well, the other is silent;
Et c'est l'autre que je préfere
And it is the other that I prefer
Il n'a rien dit; mais il me plait.
He has nothing said; but he me pleases.
L'amour est enfant de Boheme,
Love is child of Bohemia,
Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi,
It has never, never known any law,
Si tu ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime;
Il you me do not love, I you love;
Si je t'aime, prends garde a toi!
If I you love, take care to yourself!
Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, prends garde a toi!
But if I love you, if I love you, beware!
L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendre
The bird that you thought to surprise
Battit de l'aile et s'envola;
Fluttered his wings and took flight;
L'amour est loin, tu peux l'attendre;
Love is far, you can it expect;
Tu ne l'attends plus, il est la!
You expect it no longer, it is here!
Tout autour de toi, vite, vite,
All around you, quickly, quickly,
Il vient, s'en va, puis il revient;
It comes, it goes away, then it returns;
Tu crois le tenir, il t'évite;
You think it to hold, it you avoids;
Tu crois l'éviter, il te tient!
You think it to avoid, it you holds!