Au fond du Temple Saint

Over the last number of years I have slowly tried to educate myself in Opera. As a kid I often resented operatic music being played at home. Apparently I accused my mother of trying to make Sunday's 'depressing' as she sat reading the papers and listening to an operatic medley. I do remember feeling a sense of uneasiness as such tunes would fill the halls of my Limerick home. As I look back I wonder if this uneasiness was simply a child's instinctive identification with many of the musical sentiments.

Anyhow, enough waffle. Opera is no longer depressing. It is wonderful.

I have enjoyed finding arias that I love, finding the english translation for them and learning about their context withing a particular opera. In this post I am uploading a duet from Bizet's Pearl Fishers. The video is of Roberto Alagna and Bryn Terfyl - it is considered by many to be the best rendition of this famous piece. I have included the background and translations. I hope you enjoy.




"Au fond du temple saint"
from The Pearl Fishers (Les Pêcheurs de Perles)
Music by Georges Bizet
Libretto in French by Michel Carré and Eugène Cormon

Scene: The coast of Ceylon. Zurga, the newly elected leader of the little world of Cingalese fishermen, has scarcely been inaugurated when Nadir, a long-lost friend of his youth, appears. After greeting one another with affection, they recall the time when they were foolish enough to quarrel over a beautiful priestess in the temple of Brahma, Leila.

In the duet, "Au fond du temple saint" the two men sing rapturously about falling in love at first sight with a beautiful woman as she was revealed to them for an instant in the dim, incense-clouded temple. For each it was an almost mystical experience. When they realize they were in love with the same woman, they are alarmed. Believing themselves cured of the old infatuation, they swear eternal friendship.

BRYN It was in the evening! In the air cooled by a breeze, The brahmanes with faces flooded with light, Slowly called the crowd to prayer! ROBERTO At the back of the holy temple, decorated with flowers and gold, A woman appears! BRYN A woman appears! ROBERTO I can still see her! BRYN I can still see her! ROBERTO The prostrate crowd looks at her amazed and murmurs under its breath: look, this is the goddess looming up in the shadow and holding out her arms to us. BRYN Her veil parts slightly. What a vision! What a dream! The crowd is kneeling. BRYN & ROBERTO Yes, it is she! It is the goddess, more charming and more beautiful. Yes, it is she! It is the goddess who has come down among us. Her veil has parted and the crowd is kneeling. ROBERTO But through the crowd she makes her way. BRYN Already her long veil hides her face from us. ROBERTO My eyes, alas! Seek her in vain! BRYN She flees! ROBERTO She flees! But what is this strange flame which is suddenly kindled in my soul! BRYN What unknown fire is destroying me? ROBERTO Your hand pushes mine away! BRYN Your hand pushes mine away! ROBERTO Love takes our hearts by storm and turns us into enemies! BRYN No, let nothing part us! ROBERTO No, nothing! BRYN Let nothing part us! ROBERTO No, nothing! BRYN Let us swear to remain friends! ROBERTO Let us swear to remain friends! BRYN Let us swear to remain friends! BRYN & ROBERTO Oh yes, let us swear to remain friends! Yes, it is her, the goddess, who comes to unite us this day. And, faithful to my promise, I wish to cherish you like a brother! It is her, the goddess, who comes to unite us this day! Yes, let us share the same fate, let us be united until death!