Lehâr: The Merry Widow

It's fallen to me to address you as guests at this splendid ball.

I'm not that much of a speaker, but better than none at all.

So I'll be brief. I wouldn't bore you! I am simply here to implore you...

...to toast our host Baron Zeta, who has arranged this glorious day.

Let us thank the great Baron Zeta. Let us sing hip-hip-hooray.

You really have no cause to thank me. This celebration has been planned...

...as a salute to Pontevedro, to our beloved fatherland.

But we have something just as special to celebrate in drink and dance.

The ceaseless support and investment from all our generous friends in France!

Though Pontevedro's far from Paris, I feel that we are holding hands...

...a truly beneficial union of our two great fatherlands!

Though Pontevedro's far from Paris, I feel that we are holding hands...

...a truly beneficial union of our two great fatherlands!

Come quickly, please, there's no one here.

How I've been longing for this, my dear.

No, I've something urgent to tell you. - And so do I, oh, my dearest darling.

Oh, dear.

You know that isn't what I want to hear.

Fine, close your ears to what I've to say, but love will always find another way.

Such vehemence, such passion within you.

This cannot continue.

But Why?

Perhaps you should marry.

You want me to marry?

No, Valencienne. You know that my heart belongs to you.

Don't torture me so. You know that there is nothing I can do.

A highly respectable wife is forced to be cautious in life.

I never dally with strangers, I'm far too aware of the dangers.

I'd rather not join in the game than blacken my own good name.

And that is a sad fact of life, when one's a respectable wife.

I never play card games, in case I should lose them.

You know your attractions, so please don't abuse them.

Don't play with fire or with desire, or you will get your fingers burned.

A love affair requires some care, at least as far as I'm concerned.

You may start it as a game or joke, but it will end in flame and smoke.

A love affair requires some care, or you will get your fingers burned.

I've dealt with respectable wives who lead unimpeachable lives.

Alas, you don't waver or falter. You're fixed as the Rock of Gibraltar.

Though you think I'm playing some game, my feelings remain the same.

And I will regret all my life that you're a respectable wife.

It might have been better had I never met you.

But now that I've found you, how can I forget you?

I'm well aware you're teasing me. I'm not a little boy.

To be in love is agony, not something to enjoy.

This is what I've learned... that you, that you are not in love.

It's not a game, no, love is not a game as far as I'm concerned.

How beautiful you are. - The fairest in the firmament.

The fairest by far! - The single brightest star.

You're shining like a meteor, and you blind us.

You're trying to embarrass me. You're trying to make me blush.

You mustn't make a fuss of me, so hush.

If I were a Parisian, I'd almost be amused...

...but as a Pontevedrian, I'm thoroughly confused.

Remember, I'm a stranger here, a little starry-eyed.

If I were a sophisticate, I'd take it in my stride.

Is it my style? Is it my charm? Or my looks I should thank?

Or maybe it's the fact I have millions in the bank.

Excuse my being frank...

...but widows rich or poor, find at their door suitors galore.

But when a widow has a fortune, she is courted a hundred times more.

She's right. She knows the score. Widows with cash, suitors galore.

Men want a gold mine. Men want a star.

Sadly, that's how matters are.

Say what you have to say, cruel or kind. We love a girl who speaks her mind.

I never ever thought I'd be the toast of gay Paree.

So many pretty compliments and all for little me.

Complete and utter flattery, or is it merely greed?

It's like assault and battery, and hardly what I need.

Being very sycophantic isn't terribly romantic.

No,no,no,no,no, though you're very lovely boys...

...too much sweetness rapidly cloys.

Splendid that she speaks her mind! - No more!

As diplomatic attaché, I have to labor every day.

There's always something to be done. I wish I had some time for fun.

I get up at the crack of noon, then in the office fairly soon...

...and then I pop out straightaway. Well, you can hardly work all day!

When documents are to be read, then I do something else instead.

I know it's good to be in touch, but is it safe to know too much?

And when there's papers to be signed, well, that's my job, so I don't mind.

But then I often stop and think, it may be best to save the ink.

Then meetings in the Café Flore, plus an aperitif, or four.

Then, weary from my hard travails, I toddle home to don my tails.

Then off to Chez Maxim, where things are trés intime.

Surrounded by chantoozies, and all my favorite floozies!

Lolo, Dodo, Joujou, Cloclo, Margot, Froufrou!

Beloved Pontevedro, I do it all for you!

A Danube of champagne, grisettes who entertain.

It's quite a different story to see them in their glory.

Lolo, Dodo, Joujou, Cloclo, Margot, Froufrou!

Beloved Pontevedro, the things I do for you!

Of what? - A place where we could be.

Discreet? - Our secret sanctuary.

How sweet. - A place where you and I...

...could watch the world go by.

What then? - We'd sit and sigh and stare.

And kiss? - You'd maybe stroke my hair.

Like this? - No one would know that we were there.

Our little love nest, our castle in the air.

A little somewhere for you and I to share.

We'd sit and stare at each other, hand in hand.

We'd be together in our Neverland.

Where, where in all this hithering, thithering world, can we find a sanctuary?

People are rushing all around. Where can a kind of peace be found?

Yes, that is what we really long for, some sort of domesticity.

A little place, a little home, a little somewhere we can be.

What's wrong? - It's fated not to be.

How so? - My darling, woe is me.

Why woe? - Oh, surely you can see...

...that it can never be.

But why? - My darling, don't you see?

See what? - That it's a fantasy.

It's not. - This dream will never, ever be.

There will be nowhere for you and I to share.

No little love nest, no castle in the air.

Farewell the magic, the pleasure we had planned.

Farewell forever, to our Neverland.

Farewell forever, our Neverland.

Ladies' Choice! Can you hear the men rejoice?

Can you hear them name it and acclaim it with united voice?

It would be ecstasy if you would smile on me.

Madame, excuse me, will you choose me for the Ladies' Choice?

Ah, Messieurs, a delight and wholly unexpected.

Though I'd hate to be the cause that others are neglected.

Let the ladies have their chance. All of them are dying to dance...

...waiting in the wings, and willing.

But they haven't got a shilling!

If they continue, she may yield.

I must try to clear the field!

Boys, you write your applications.

I'm off to fetch some fresh temptations.

In Paris it's slightly embarrassing, when dressed in your best for a ball...

...to offer yourself to a lady when she doesn't notice at all.

You women campaign for equality, the chances of which seem remote.

Since, even when you have the power you can't even bother to vote.

Will you elect me? - Will you select me?

I am a better man than all the rest.

Will you vote for Cascada? - Will you vote for St. Brioche?

It is your chance for a dance with the best.

This modern obsession with politics! A terrible bore and a curse!

The men who indulge are appalling, the women decidedly worse.

But since you have granted me suffrage, it's right that I fight your campaign.

But one thing I'd rather be fighting for, and that is the right to abstain!

Will you elect me? - Will you select me?

It isn't fair that it should rest with me!

Doing all the choosing isn't so amusing. Just tell me who is my partner-to-be.

Let me do the choosing, let me do the choosing.

My Lady, I'll be your partner-to-be.

Well, since you insist, it doesn't really matter who I dance with.

Someone come and claim the prize. - Ladies' Choice, Ladies' Choice!

Here I am with fresh supplies!

Oh, come along, you rare, you perfect beauties.

Take your partners! To your duties!

Let them whirl you and twirl you forevermore.

They'll be so fleet that your feet scarcely touch the floor.

Come on and don't be shy, you lovely creatures.

Will you guide us? Will you teach us how divine the world can be?

Ah, Monsieur, je vous en prie!

Like the warmth of a morning in May, or the scent of a lover's bouquet...

...with the shimmer of massed violins, ah, that's how the magic begins.

When a boy is enjoying the charms of a girl he can twirl in his arms...

Then let youth have its fling, let us dance, let us sing!

Who can tell what the night will bring?

What delight the night will bring!

Oh, come along, you rare and perfect beauties.

Take your partners! To your duties!

Come and whirl them and twirl them forevermore.

You'll be so fleet that their feet hardly touch the floor.

Come on, and don't be shy, you lovely creatures.

Will you guide us? Will you teach us...

...that the pleasure has no measure...

...as long as you can hear the music play?

As diplomatic attaché, I have to labor every day.

I do it for my country's sake, but now and then I like a break.

Madame, oh I implore you.

I'm kneeling here before you.

I'm positively spoiled for choice.

Another woman might rejoice.

Well, well! Strange situation.

I have a recommendation.

Damn and blast! I thought I'd cleared the field.

He does a splendid polka. He's got the magic touch.

I've also tried his mazurka, I liked it very much.

His hornpipe is outstanding, admired at every dance.

I've longed to sample his Waltzing, but I haven't been given the chance.

If you select him, if you elect him, then frankly nothing would delight me more.

If you dance with Rosillon, then he will polka you clean off the floor.

If you dance with Cascada... - If you dance with St. Brioche...

...then you'll discover what dancing is for.

- Too many suitors for Madame? - No, not at all. But still...

Frankly, my perfect partner is one who's cool and debonair...

...who acts as if he doesn't care.

You're the one I vote for.

Me? Chere Madame, I never dance.

So you're going to pass up the chance?

No, no, it's fine. You say the dance is mine?

Well, yes, mais oui.

Well, if the dance belongs to me, then I can use it how I like.

Can use it how I like. - That's right.

What's going on?

The dance is mine, accepted and with thanks.