Parsons Dance & East Village Opera Company - State Theatre

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T HE M USIC8Di Capua: “Maria, Marì”Lyrics by Vincenzo RussoEduardo Di Capua will live on forever as the composer of “O, sole mio,” which has beensung by everyone from Caruso and Pavarotti to Bryan Adams and Elvis Presley (“It’s Now orNever”). Di Capua’s second-most famous song is “Maria, Mari” (which, to the best of ourknowledge, was never recorded by Elvis.) It’s a typical Neapolitan serenade of the ‘cometo-the-window’genre.Open, window!Let me see Marie’s face,For I’m down in the street,Hoping to see her.I have no peace, not even for an hour:I make the night come day,in order to be around here all the time,hoping to talk to her!Oh, Marie, oh, Marie,How much sleep I’m losing over you!Let me sleep,holding you in my arms awhile!Bizet: “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Habanera) from Carmen (1875)Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic HalévyWhile the “Habanera,” in our opinion, doesn’t really sound like a traditional Spanish folksong, Bizet was successful in establishing the character of Carmen in this aria: that of acoquettish, flirtatious, and extremely confident seductress.Love is a rebellious birdThat no one can tame.And you call him quite in vainIf it suits him to refuse.Nothing works, neither threats nor prayers,One man speaks well, the other keeps silent;And it’s the other one that I prefer—He hasn’t said a word, but I like him.Love! Love is a bohemian child.It has never, ever recognized the law.If you love me not, then I love you,And if I love you, watch out!The bird you thought you’d caughtFlapped its wings and flew away.Love stays away, you can wait for it;When you no longer expect it, there it is!All around you, quickly, quickly,It comes, it goes and then comes again!You think you’ve got hold of it, it escapesyou,You think you’ve escaped it, it’s gotten holdof you!If you love me not, then I love you,And if I love you, watch out!
T HE M USIC9Puccini: “Che gelida manina” from La bohème (1896)Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi IllicaLa bohème is the story of four hipsters in the Latin Quarter ofParis, a neighborhood that shares historic similarities with the <strong>East</strong><strong>Village</strong> in New York. In this aria a poor poet and his sicklyneighbor fumble in the dark hallway looking for her lost keys. Heaccidentally touches her hand, and falls instantly in love. He bareshis soul to her. Knowing perhaps that he’s said too much, he asks,“Now that you know me, will you tell me: who are you?”What a cold little hand,let me warm it for you.What’s the use of looking?We won’t find it in the dark.But luckily it’s a moonlit night,and we have the moon near ushere.Wait, miss, I will tell you in twowordswho I am, what I do, and how I live.May I?Who am I? I am a poet.What do I do? I write.And how do I live? I live.In my carefree poverty I lavishlyspendrhymes and love songs like a greatlord.When it comes to dreams andvisionsand castles in the air,I’ve the soul of a millionaire.Now and then all the jewels arestolen from my safe by twothieves:a pair of pretty eyes.They came in with you just now,and my usual dreams, my lovelydreams,melted at once into thin air!But I pay no regard to the theft,for left in their place is hope!Now that you know all about me,Speak, tell me who you are.Please do!Delibes: “Dôme épais, le jasmin” (Flower Duet) from Lakmé (1883)Libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe GilleAn Indian girl and her female slave slip off to the water’s edge while singing aboutbirds, lotuses, and the river’s current… renowned in the opera world for its Sapphic subtext.Immortalized in our time as the soundtrack for British Airways and countless other TVcommercials.LAKME:Under the dome where the jasmineThickly entwines with the rose,Riverbanks in bloom, in the cool morning,They call to us.Ah! Let us float along,Following the fleeting current:On the rippling waves,With an unhurried handLet us reach the bankWhere the bird sings.Under the dome, the white jasmine,They call to us!MALLIKA:Under the dome where the white jasmineThickly entwines with the rose,On the flowery riverbank,Laughing at the morning,Come, let us go down togetherLet us gently floatOn its charming waves,Let us follow the fleeting currentOn the rippling waves.With an unhurried handCome, let us reach the bankWhere the spring sleepsAnd the bird singsUnder the dome, under the white jasmine;Ah, let us go down together!LAKME:I don’t know what sudden fearTakes hold of meWhen my father goes alone to theiraccursed city,I tremble, I tremble with fear.MALLIKA:May Ganesha protect himUp to the pond where happily frolicThe swans with wings of snow,Come, let us gather the blue lotus.
Page 1 and 2: P ARSONS D ANCE ANDEAST VILLAGE OPE
Page 3 and 4: T HE P ROGRAM3CAUGHT1982Choreograph
Page 5 and 6: R EMEMBER M E5Remember me, but, ah,
Page 7: T HE M USIC7Mozart: Overture to Le
Page 11 and 12: T HE M USIC11Catalani: “Ebben? Ne

Parsons Dance & East Village Opera Company - State Theatre

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