La Traviata

It's long past the time you were invited, you're late

we were gambling at flora's and the hours flew by

flora, my dear friends, the evening

will be gayer now you're here

the cup that cheers...

- Can you enjoy yourself? - 1 mean to

I trust pleasure to soothe my misfortunes

yes, let life be filled with joy

my dear, you have another admirer: Alfredo germont

friends such as he are few

thank you, viscount, for this gift

my dear Alfredo!

How are you, Marquis?

Here friendship and pleasure go hand in hand

is everything ready?

Friends, be seated

let's relax and enjoy the party

it's true: Wine banishes our hidden cares

Let's relax and enjoy the party

- Alfredo thinks of you constantly - Are you joking?

When you were ll he came every day to ask after you

- stop it. I am nothing to him - I'm serious

is it true? I can't imagine why

- yes, it's true - Then I'm grateful

you never did as much for me, baron

I've only known you for a year

and he only a few minutes

you should have kept quiet

- I find that young man disagreeable - Well, I think he's charming

- are you going to remain silent? - Our hostess must draw him out

- like hebe, I'll pour the wine - May you have her immortality

raise your glasses

baron, can't you give us an address, a few words?

You, then - yes, a toast

- inspiration has left me - Is this not your forte”?

Would it please you?

Yes - yes?

You put heart into me

listen, now

listen to the poet

Let us drink from cups adorned by beauty

let the fleeting moment rejoice in pleasure

let us drink in the sweetness that love arouses

for a glance has conquered our hearts

as we drink we bring warmth to the kisses of love

I shall share my days of happiness in your company

in this world all is folly that is not pleasure

the pleasures of love are fleeting

like flowers, they cannot be enjoyed when they are dead

let us drink while a seductive voice draws us on

wine, song and laughter brighten the night hours

may the dawn find us in this paradise

- life lies in pleasure - When you are not in love

- I know nothing of that - Yet such is my fate

wine, song and laughter brighten the night hours

may the dawn find us in this paradise

- What's that? - Would you like to dance now?

A charming idea, we all accept

everyone... this way...

Oh!

- What's wrong? - It's nothing...

- What's upset you? - Let's goin

- oh, heavens! - Again!

- Are you in pain? - Heavens! What's the matter?

A moment of faintness. Please go ahead

I'll join you

if you say so

How pale I am

still here?

- Has your faintness passed? - I feel better

you'll kill yourself if you carry on you should take more care

how could 1?

If you were mine, I'd watch over you every day

what are you saying? No one looks after me

because no one in the world loves you...

- No one? - ..Except for me

how true, I had forgotten that great passion!

You're laughing have you no heart?

A heart? Yes, perhaps...

Why do you ask?

If you had, you wouldn't make fun of me

- are you serious? - I'm being honest

have you loved me for long?

Yes, for a year

like an otherworldly vision, you appeared, one happy day

Since that day I've lived for love

The love that is the heartbeat of the universe

Mysterious, exalted, both pleasure and pain

If that's true, keep away from me, since I can only offer friendship

I cannot love, or endure heroic passion

I am simple and straightforward you must look for someone else

you'll have no trouble forgetting me

What the devil are you up to?

- Making merry - Fine, stay there

no more talk of love do you promise?

- I'll do as you say, and go now - Must you?

Take this flower - why?

To bring it back

- when? - When it has faded

- tomorrow? - Very well, tomorrow

what happiness!

Do you still say you love me?

I love you so much

- Are you leaving? - Ll am

- farewell - I desire nothing more

It is daybreak and we must leave

thank you, madam, for such a splendid party

The town is still revelling. Pleasure rolls on its way

in slumber we'll replenish the zest for further joys

How strange... His words have stayed in my heart

Would it be a mistake to fall in love?

What is it I really feel?

No man has ever yet touched my heart

to love and be loved is a joy I've never known

can I refuse it for the empty pleasures of the way I live?

Perhaps he's the one my solitary heart liked to imagine in all his mystery

Modest and vigilant, he came here when I was ill

he caused another fever, waking me to love

The love that is the heartbeat of the universe

Mysterious, exalted, both pleasure and pain

It's madness! It's empty delirium!

A poor woman...

Alone, abandoned to this teeming desert called Paris

what can I hope for?

What should I do?

Enjoy myself, then perish in the whirlpool of pleasure

I must always be free, rushing from pleasure to pleasure

I want my life to follow the path of enjoyment

as each day dawns, as each day dies

gaily I turn to the new delights that make my spirit soar

Love is the pulse

of the whole world

yes! Love!

Mysterious, exalted

both pleasure and pain

I can't enjoy life away from her

it's three months since violetta left her easy life for me

those grand parties where everyone was a slave to her beauty

In these lovely surroundings she has forgotten it all for me

with her I feel reborn. The breath of love has restored me

I've forgotten the past because of her happiness

She has tempered my eager, youthful passion

with her smiling, gentle love

since the day she said, "I want to live faithfully with you"

I've forgotten the world and almost feel I live in heaven

- Annina, where have you been? - To Paris

- who sent you? - The mistress

why?

To sell the coach and horses and all her other things

- what's this? - It's expensive living here

- why have you said nothing? - I was sworn to silence

- how much do we need? - One thousand Louis

go now. I'll go to Paris myself

say nothing to your mistress

I can still make amends

I am so ashamed at how mistaken I've been

but now the truth has roused me from my dream

for a little while be calm in my breast, o cry of honour

in me you shall have a sure avenger

I shall wash away this infamy

- Where is Alfredo? - On his way to Paris

- when will he be back? - Before dark, he said to tell you

how strange

this is for you - very well

I'm expecting a businessman

show him in as soon as he arrives

flora has found out where I am. She's invited me to a dance tonight

she'll wait in vain

- a gentleman has arrived - The one I'm expecting

- Mademoiselle valéry? - Yes?

- I am Alfredo's father - You are?

Father of that reckless boy who risks ruin over you

I am a lady and in my own home

allow me to leave you, more for your sake than for mine

such manners!

- However... - You have been misled

he intends to give you all he owns

he hasn't tried to yet: I would refuse

but all this luxury?

No one else knows this... But you shall know the truth

I see... do you mean to sell everything you have?

Then your past is a reproach to you

the past is over

I love Alfredo now

god has wiped out the past: He knows of my repentance

- Fine sentiments indeed - How kind that sounds

I have a greater sacrifice to ask of you

please don't go on. It must be something terrible

I knew something would happen... I was too happy

Alfredo's father

pleads on behalf of his two children

two children?

Yes

God gave me a daughter, as pure as an angel

if Alfredo refuses to come home to his family

the man she loves and who loves her

the one whose wife she was to be

will break the chain that was to bind them in their happiness

please don't allow her love to be turned into tears

Surely you won't harden your heart against my request